Colorful Accessories

I think we've all experienced doubt and fear when deciding to do something new or hard. For me, the half Ironman triathlon distance and separately a marathon are those for me. Just crazy almost ridiculous things to even contemplate, but yet here I am contemplating them. But more on that later.

This week I'm heading west and to entertain myself on my flight to San Francisco I decided to catch up on one of my favorite things --- movies.

First up was The September Issue which documents the months leading up to the launch of Vogue's largest September issue --- the one with Sienna Miller on the cover and the fabulous spread in Rome.

One would be surprised to learn that I was seriously obsessed with fashion and accessories when I was younger. Each month I would eagerly pour over Seventeen magazine and American Vogue to mimic the styles elegantly strewn across the glossy pages --- from preppy to punk to all-American to European.

I remember planning my outfits with as much determination as I would spend studying for a test and kept track of each creation so that I would limit repeating myself. When I couldn't find exactly what I wanted --- either because it was just too expensive or the stores didn't have what I envisioned--- my mom would many times make it for me. Let's be for real. The only reason I worked at the mall was for the store discount and to make a few bucks to blow on concert tickets.

When my creativity was to be dashed once I entered private school and forced to wear a uniform I ended up focused more on accessories --- shoes, jewelry, hats and hair. Boy, did I enjoy changing my hair. Short, long and somewhere in the middle. And the colors --- highlights, low lights, brown, black and even a purple-ish tone. My stylist loved seeing me walk in the door.

Anyway, as I watched the movie I realized something more about Anna Wintour --- more than the person characterized to our delight in The Devil Wears Prada. Yes she's driven and a perfectionist and icy and most likely a genius. I would agree with all of that.

Instead I was taken by her singular focus to do exactly what she knows to be right and having the strength, confidence, determination or whatever one would call it to just execute. It is truly stunning.

You can learn a lot from that kind of strength and confidence --- no matter what you set your mind to.

So the next time someone else's doubts --- even if that person is me --- seeps around the edges, I'm going to remember Miss Wintour and her steely confidence shielded behind those extra large sunglasses and remember that I can do whatever I set my mind to --- as long as it includes a colorful accessory.