Mission: Operation Beautiful

After losing 80 pounds I gained weight with a serious back injury.  I beat myself up daily saying I was fat.  On an assignment in New York City I walked past a subway entrance advertising a new make-up “guaranteed” to make you look beautiful.  Right :-/.  Attached near the model’s face was a small orange post-it.  Intrigued I moved closer to read it.

“YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!”

My day was brighter as I walked away smiling.  All the negative thoughts racing through my head vanished as I remembered I’m beautiful for being me.  Not because I was thin or attractive, just me.  I had no idea who left the note or why, but I was happier because they did.

I found Caitlin’s blog and was surprised this one little note was part of a larger movement…Operation Beautiful.  I posted notes with the same message telling others they are beautiful too. My bathroom mirror has a note I read every morning saying I’m beautiful no matter what the scale says.  That sucker lies!

Then came the book.  I squealed with glee and called local bookstores the second an early copy was spotted.  No luck (it was released August 3)…so I ordered one and it came early 😀

I picked it up Saturday and planned to leave a note in the other copies on the shelf.  Unfortunately…or fortunately for me…mine was the only copy they had.  Change of plans.  I left as many notes I could dream up in Barnes & Noble and Target.  Here they are!

Do you get the message yet? … You are beautiful!  Still need more convincing…

Some teenagers saw me leave this note and went to peek when I moved.  I spied on them as they read…no more moody teenagers, they had huge grins 🙂

No matter who you are or what you look like YOU ARE AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL!

Be kind to yourself.  Love yourself.  You are worth it.  Brighten someone’s day and spread the love.  PS Men are beautiful too!

*As you read this I’m standing outside the TODAY show in Rockefeller Center supporting Caitlin.  A large group of bloggers are the Operation Beautiful Cheerleaders. We believe in this movement…won’t you join us?*