Over the years I have met women whose courage inspired me, women who fought battles nobody else could see, and women who simply ran out of strength after carrying far too much for far too long.

A few are no longer here. I still have the plaques and messages they sent after difficult times, including one that simply read, “Good friends are hard to find.”

Today I found myself thinking of one in particular.

Never forget the short time I knew you, Jane.

Your kindness, your friendship, and your strength left a mark that time has never erased.

To all the women who keep going despite heartbreak, loss, abuse, fear, and disappointment — may you know that your courage matters. And to those who couldn’t carry the weight any longer, may you be remembered with love, dignity, and compassion.

Some people pass through our lives for only a moment, yet leave footprints that last forever.