She’s not at peak bloom, but she’s strong in her purpose.

And what a timely sighting she was.

During my run early this morning, a pair of younger women were walking in my direction. I marveled at how put together they were — slim with coordinated, sweat-free clothes and stylish hair. Especially in the heat at that early hour. They were the polar opposite of me and my hot mess express with ball cap-covered bedhead and sweat-soaked, mismatched gear. For a split second I actually felt a twinge of embarrassment, maybe even a bit of shame.

But as I moved past them, I shrugged and smiled. You know what? I’m not that person. I’m not as young as I used to be, and I don’t put a lot of thought into what I look like when I exercise. I wear what’s comfortable and I work really hard when I head out the door. Kind of like the  magnolia bloom I spotted along my route — she’s not as lovely as her peers, but she is still stubbornly doing what she’s supposed to do. Motivated and proud — that’s good enough.