Operation Beautiful.

by

Subtitle: Im a little late to this soiree—but better late than never.

To know me at all is to know that my primary goal in this life is to raise my daughter to love herself & to realize that simply by being who she is that she’s ENOUGH.

(Mother’s Day 2009 flashback)

What I wish for her is this:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g1xpI3GITg

My secondary goal in this life is to help as many other people as I can realize this about their own damn selves.

If I can help one person (notice I did not say woman or female as this feeling of being not enough crosses all barriers) realize s/he’s beautiful & strong & capable simply by BEING then I shall die a happy MizFit.

As a result, I was BEYOND excited and extremely in awe when I stumbled upon Caitlin’s Operation Beautiful.

She’s started a one woman campaign (which is spreading like the proverbial wildfire) against negative self talk.

Her words:

Operation Beautiful is simple: all you need is a pen and a piece of paper.
I’ve begun leaving positive messages on the mirrors of public restrooms — at work, at the gym, at the grocery store.
I scribble down whatever comes to mind — “You are beautiful!” or “You are amazing just the way you are!”
My goal is to leave as many Operation Beautiful notes as I can.  Maybe some people read them and just smile, but I bet some people are truly touched by the effort of a random stranger.

Please to head on over and check out her site.

Watch the short video.

Ill wait.  You wont be disappointed.

(By way of full MizDizclosure I choked up when I clicked through the various notes people had left, the messages they carried & the places they were tucked away.)

What followed for the Tornado and me was a YouAreBeautiful Extravaganza.

We pretty much lost our collective minds and plopped & tucked notes all over the Austin area.

First we hit up a parking lot:

pic1

Next we went to the gym:

pic11

Left someone a surprise inside her locker:

pic12

Yelled at the scale a bit (I know. We are opinionated Operation Beautiful word spreaders.):

pic13

Hit up the grocery (the one where they cringe when they see us coming):

pic14

Perhaps to their chagrin?

pic15

Next was the bathroom at Starbucks:

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All while sporting these matching tees:

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I have to say our Operation Beautiful morning was the best time Ive had in a long, long while.

I smiled from my core imagining people stumbling upon our messages &  the conversations the Tornado & I had while we snuck around were priceless.

Suffice it to say she’s one three & a half year old who hath no shyness when it comes to approaching strangers and telling them they’re beautiful.

(yes it can get totally & completely awkward—but you’ll have that)

Now you.

I urge you to take a moment today, grab a pen & paper, and leave at least one note.

You dont need to go nuts and snap pics as we did—but I promise you that you will smile ALMOST as much as the stranger whose day youre making.

I promise.

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Comments

  4. I LOVE THIS POST!!

    You are such a cool role model and mama.

    Off to check out the Operation link.

  5. Where on earth did you get that shirt?
    Id love ones for my twins!

    I shall follow suit today with the notes.

    You show us the greatest stuff, Miz!!

  6. LOVE this idea. Had seen it before, but not the video. I have got my post its in hand and plan on making a day of it…where ever I go. I am going to post a few around my house too.

    You are enough…….that’s my favortie!

  7. LOVE the concept- Caitlin is a genius! Adorable pick of the Tornado- how awesome are those tshirts. Keep up the good work 😉

  8. I love that phrase of yours YOU ARE ENOUGH and Ive been using it on myself since I saw your mother’s day video.

    Thank you for all you do, MizFit.

    YOU ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH.

  9. I thank you so much for posting this. With tears in my eyes I am writing because this touches me deeper than a lot of things have. I never heard that at all growing up, as a matter of the fact I heard quite the opposite. To have seen a note like any of these posted could have made such a difference and positive impact on me.

    Today I will begin, and begin right here in my own home with my children. Then I will spread the fact we are all truly beautiful in our own unique ways every place that I go. Every single one of us is just that, beautiful…even me.

    Thank you for inspiring me, sharing this. You are awesome!

  11. Fantastic post.
    I would love to hear more about what you talked to your daughter about.

    She is the same age as my daughter I htink!

  12. You Rock.

    I’d read about this, thought hmm, great idea… then promptly forgot.

    Well, to be honest I’m a bit on the shy side and would be afraid someone would know I’d done it. (And like SO WHAT??? Yet that’s how my neurotic self-conscious brain works. Must Not Draw Attention to Myself).

    So while I’m working up my nerve, you’re off plastering the town in positive messages! So awesome.

  13. How cool is the pic where we can see you as well 🙂

    Did the store manager yell at you?
    Love the makeup picture—totally gutsy.

  14. This reminded me of the quote from “The Little Princess”

    I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny, old attics; even if they dress in rags; even if they aren’t pretty, or smart, or young. They’re still princesses. All of us. Didn’t you father ever tell you that? Didn’t he?
    -Sara

    and that look on Miss Minchin’s face when it’s quite obvious that her father never told her any such thing!

  15. Love the OB concept! Will make it my mission today 🙂

    Also, want to thank you for taking time to drop by my blog. I am amazed that you find time to support us all in our journeys, but it certainly means more than you can know.

    Thank you for being the incredible person you are!

  16. Pardon my language, but this is f***ing awesome!! I would love to see people’s reactions, especially to the scale.

    And I love that tee!
    Thank you for this message today!

  17. No words.

    I’ve never heard of Operation Beautiful.

    Thank you for enlightening me & for spreading the self-love.

  20. I’ve seen a few people talking about this and enjoyed seeing it put into action.

    Off to watch the video and then take action in my town, too!

  22. Hey Miz,
    You have…(helped at least one person). I know. My life (it’s better, way better, because our paths have crossed).

    Keep rockin’ the world!!

    (btw, love the message to your daughter!)

  24. This is a great idea. I’ll go put a post it with a positive message in the womens bathroom at work right now! As always, thank YOU Miz.

  26. Cannot believe you put one on diet pills.

    Did you run after?

    I also want to know which came first for you:

    The self-loving or the looking like you do (so fit)?

  28. which came first: the self-loving or the looking like you do (so fit)?

    I would love to hear more about what you talked to your daughter about.

    She is the same age as my daughter I think!

    GREAT questions….more later when day slows or in a different post. Which ever comes first 🙂

  29. Your notes are great! I read them this morning on OB and was like, YES! MizFit jumped on the bandwagon!

    Keep spreading the love!

  30. I think you should put it in a whole different post. That way you can have a lengthier discussion and that way we get more ideas and tips 🙂

    OH, and I linked to your post! Hope you don’t mind!

  33. Last time I put a post-it on a car I wrote THAT’S NOT A PARK, MORON on some horrible git who’d parked in a disabled space. This sounds much more positive 😛

  35. I am worthy.
    I am strong.
    I am enough.
    I love myself.

    Shout-out to you, C, and Geneen. You both changed my outlook on my life.

    -T in VA

  37. First of all – your daughter is GORGEOUS!!!
    I love this movement, don’t you? So fun and so positive. I’ve been armed with my post-its for about a week now!

  39. You don’t know this about me but I am the kind of person who will walk up to someone and tell them I think they are beautiful. I might not say, “hey, you’re enough!” But I have on occasion, shocked Chris by walking over to a pregnant woman who’s glowing, or some random stranger and say something to them. I’ll come back to Chris and he’ll say, “what did you say this time?”

    Sometimes I can’t keep it to myself. I gotta share. The notes are a cute idea except you could get yourself into a bit of legal hassles inside the store. 😉

    Thanks for the info on Operation Beautiful. I have to put a post-it on my own bathroom mirror.

    (taking a vacation day today)

  41. Ok…if I leave the house today I will do it! I’m guessing that the post it I left on the boys’ bathroom mirror that says “Make this room sparkle!” is not what you had in mind???

  42. Thanks Carla, you make the world a better place. Whenever I read your comments on my blog I feel special.

    I got chocked up reading this post. It touched me because I feel I have given my 7 yr old daughter issues about her self image. I am trying to change that and I do see some good changes but I know I still have a long way to go. I appreciate reading all the things you say, they help me to be a better parent and a better person.

    When we went to Disney for the first time in her little life we got to wear matching t-shirts and headband it made me feel so great.

    You are beautiful inside and out!!! Thanks for being you!

    Hugs,
    Dawn

  43. Thanks for sharing this Miz. I just checked out the operationbeautiful site and am inspired. You can bet that there will be a post about this soon over at petiteflower! 🙂 And BTW, you ARE beautiful, just the what you are!

  44. Oh I’ll be smiling all day thinking of these! And how adorable is the Tornado?? I love that shirt. You do the best guerilla campaigns!!

  45. You are amazing! You are a beautiful person! You’ve moved me to tears! Thanks for helping spread the work and word about Operation Beautiful! XX

  49. You know, I found a couple packs of those lined posties at a garage sale the other day and I felt driven to buy them, despite having oh, 20-30 packs of post-its at home. It wasn’t that “oh, look, cute office supplies” addiction calling, but something kept prodding me to buy them. Since the price was so reasonable ($0.50 total) and they would neatly fit in my post-it drawer, I bought them, figuring that with an urge that strong, a purpose would reveal itself. And now it has.

    I’d read about this campaign and wanted to jump in, but was off doing something else not nearly as much fun or important. Thanks for the nudge!

    (How excited am I? I get to use cute post-it notes and Sharpie markers all in one day!)

  51. Such a “beautiful” idea. I have left one that says “Don’t compare yourself to others. U R beautiful just the way U R”

    You never know who is going to find a message. Every person is struggling in some area and this might just give him/her the boost s/he needs.

    It is hard to come to grips with our own image when media/society/culture is so image driven. As for me, I feel prettier as I become healthier. They seem to go hand in hand.

  52. Kind of reminds me of that Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty bumper sticker. I haven’t seen one of these before, but I absolutely agree that every single little thing we do to make the world a better, more loving place adds up. What a great idea from Caitlin.

  53. Oh my cuteness. You guys wore matching I heart me shirts?! That is adorable. I’ve got in on the Op Beautiful too, but not to that extent. Think of how many days you changed for people. CONGRATS!!!

  55. I LOVE THIS!!! I can’t wait to do this myself!!

    There is one blogger in a weightloss challenge I’m doing who posted a before pic and labeled it “gross”. Which I promptly chided her for because it was NOT GROSS it was beautiful because she is beautiful! I will take my notes out and leave some around — but I’ll also remember to spread some virtual ones around too because we can really get caught up on that here in the blogosphere!

  56. Just reading the post made me smile. And that shirt on the TT definitely made me grin. What a fabulous mother you are. If we all had had mothers like you, I bet there would be a lot less self hatred and low self esteem!

    Happiness Awaits

  59. I heard about Operation Beautiful before and I can’t think of a more wonderful idea. Truly. Fantastic.

    I love your notes, and that you and the Toddler did it while wearing those shirts! You’re teaching her to have great self esteem at such an early age; it’s great.

    I’m excited to spread the notes around.

  62. Promise I’m grabbing my post it notes before heading off to the gym today. What will the manly-men in the freeweight section think when they find a “you are perfect just the way you are.” on the 100# DB??

  63. Hey Gorgeous Mama!!!

    I love your scale note ALMOST as much as I love those T-shirts. The girls and I NEEEEEED. In fact, I think everyone should have one of those!

    Have a great day Carla!

  64. Very cool! Great idea!!
    This has reached Canada and I’m planning my attack right now.
    Thanks for being you.

  65. I often leave a note on a car that I know is a veteran’s…thanks for your service. Today, I’ll have to add a few beeuutiful notes too 😉

    I find it much easier to compliment strangers/others than myself.

    OOOOH maybe try LINDA/#68’s idea then as well!

  68. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Fun.

    I’m going to put one above my computer because I’m not very nice to me sometimes…that’s a start, right?

  69. I’m going to put one above my computer because I’m not very nice to me sometimes…that’s a start, right?

    YES. Its the oxygen mask on an airplane analogy.

    you need to love YOU before you can spread the luuuuuuve.

  70. WOW! What a great idea! I am going to get my sticky notes filled out TODAY and get this started. You could do this in email form as well! I am so excited!
    BTW Miz Fit you are Beautiful and make a positive impact in this world, thank you!

  71. I wonder if it is possible to think you are any more wonderful than I already do.

    This is awesome. Simply awesome. THANK YOU for sharing Operation Beautiful and showing what you’ve done! You rock!!!!

  72. I loveloveLOVE this. How fantastic. I have a post-it in my medicine cabinet with a Carson Kressley quote from his makeover show (that I can’t remember the name of now): “Is she perfect? No. Is she beautiful? Yes.” But I’d never thought about leaving post-it notes for others. LOVE it.

    PS – WHERE did you get those matching shirts? I. Need.

  74. OB has taken off so fast that I am just waiting to stumble across a note that someone else from the blogosphere has left! The message is wonderful, and so sorely-needed too.

  75. I’m going to look for your notes.

    How cute to think of the Tornado wandering around and telling people they’re beautiful.

  76. This is AWESOME!!!! I’m so going to do this. (I have three girls myself, as some of you know.)

    (I’m so glad I’m at home today, and can watch the face time. I look at your blog at work a lot, but I can’t watch the video because people would hear….:-P. So I end up not commenting and I feel so left out. And it’s hard to catch up once you get behind…)

  78. I saw that on Caitlin’s site, and love the idea! My daughter is 17 and I hope if I have taught her nothing is that she is not only beautiful on the outside, but more importantly on the inside!

    People routinely come up to me and tell me how helpful, nice and caring she is – it makes me so proud to be her momma!

  79. I was thinking about this post more even though I already commented on this. I was sleep deprived this morn…

    My mom, as much as I loved her, did not like herself & it was obvious in her actions & words. She had been an abused child so I feel she did her best and was a great mom but she did not like herself. It is amazing how this can effect us so I think it is great that you are being such a wonderful role model for your daughter. I know that when I think back, many issues I have stem from childhood.

    People don’t think kids understand things even when they are as young as 2 or 3 but they do.

    THX for the great post!

  80. Very cool.
    Someone went around the university campus wehre I work last semester and left “You Are Beautiful” notes in random places.
    They really lift the spirit and make you smile. 🙂

  83. How fun. I LVOE this idea. I am the WORST at negative self talk. I need to start leaving those sticky notes around the house for myself, then start spreading it around. I bet it made you smile from your core! Love it LOVE IT!!!

  85. I have read about this on a couple of blogs and am definitely going to leave some notes (just not today as I am sick and don’t feel like going anywhere). I love the idea of using sticky notes, and I especially love the idea of putting a note on the scale. Brilliant! And what a great object lesson for your daughter.

    You, MizFit, are beautiful!

  86. I am probably never gonna write on post its and put them in random places, but I am going to send random text messages, e mails, and postcards to my BFF until she can see the beautiful and strong woman the rest of the world sees!!!!

  93. You know, its funny….for years now the banner greeting I put on my phone is “Hello Beautiful” Its been there for years. My beautiful and fit 12 year old asked me the other day, while she was sending a text to a friend of mine because I didn’t have my glasses and can’t text with out them! “Mommy, why don’t you ever change this?”

    I told her, people don’t say it to me every day, so I make sure I hear it so I don’t forget.

    You’re Beautiful

  94. love love love love love love love love love

    Must plaster my campus in these post-its. My students desperately need this message (hmmm, must consider talking to the dorm people about having these notes greet new freshmen moving in)

  98. Sorry for multiple comments, but –
    My mom, as much as I loved her, did not like herself & it was obvious in her actions & words. She had been an abused child so I feel she did her best and was a great mom but she did not like herself. [. . .] I know that when I think back, many issues I have stem from childhood.

    Jody, this was my mom, too. Sometimes even now I hear her say things about her body (or mine, though mine are always precipitated by me), and it makes me want to cry – and I’m never sure if I’m crying for me or for her.

  100. I saw this website yesterday (Operation Beautiful) and I’m so happy I did. I LOVE THIS. And I choked up just like you. I cannot wait to start spreading the love. :o)

  102. i have loved this idea since caitlin started, but i haven’t made any notes yet. gotta get on that 🙂 maybe when i hit up the gym for a run…

  103. I love the concept but fear being caught in the act and mistaken for a crazy stalker…so I won’t leave one on your car 🙂

    Seriously, another great idea and what a great way to teach your daughter

  105. This is an AMAZING idea. I can only imagine that you probably made someone’s (or several someones’) day! Great positive message!
    Bethany

  107. Did you tell your daughter what you were doing? Or is she too young (I don’t have kids yet)?

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