The Mission
The goal of the Operation Beautiful website is to end negative self-talk or “Fat Talk.” If this little blog only does one productive thing, I hope it helps readers realize how truly toxic negative self-talk is — it hurts you emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
Through my own experiences fighting Fat Talk, I’ve realized the power behind an anonymous act such as Operation Beautiful. When I post a note, I’m saying, “I CHOOSE to be positive!”
I began Operation Beautiful by 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 personal 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.
Operation Beautiful is simple: all you need is a pen and a piece of paper. If you want to join the mission, send me an e-mail at seebriderun@gmail.com with a photograph of your Operation Beautiful note or a description of your experience, and I’ll post it on the Operation Beautiful site for thousands of others to read and enjoy!
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i think i might start doing this!(: my self esteem is pretty low… and maybe this could help other girls(: my school is FULL of self conscious people.. including me. this could be fun(:
im going to put the notes on my bathroom mirrors at school. it made me feel happy to see it at rudy tuesdays so ill spread the lovee <3.
Dear Operation Beautiful,
I noticed one of my friends taping these notes onto the bathroom door. She told me about Operation Beautiful. I would see these notes EVERYWHERE. They really helps my self confidence alot. You inspired me so much. Thank you. You meant alot to me. I will to change the way girls think. One bathroom at a time.
~Jessica <3
Hello,
I was on Yahoo Answers when I visited one of my contact’s profiles, and I found this link in her ‘About Me’. Intrigued by the website address, I clicked it without really thinking. It took me here.
Although I didn’t think it would make much of a difference, I loved what it stood for and set about buying some post it notes. I did the task, and later went back into the toilets to see how they were getting on. The girls I saw were pretending not to see the notes, and looked just as miserable as they did when they had gone in.
I was on the verge of giving up when a friend ran up to me. “Sarah!” she panted, catching up. “Have you seen those notes in the toilets?”
“What!?” I exclaimed, quite surprised.
“Someone’s been sticking post it notes all around College in the girls toilets with compliments and stuff on them,” she explained. “Have you seen them? I saw it and it made me so happy. Everyone’s going on about them.”
Since then I’ve only told a few people that it’s me, and they’ve been helping me stick up the notes everywhere. I’ve heard many people going on about how much they love to see them and how it makes their day, and some cleaners are now refusing to remove them. I love doing it and do it as often as I can, it makes me so happy! I also make a point of asking questions in the Teens section of Yahoo Answers every once in a while telling them all how beautiful they are, and some of the responses are so uplifting!
Thank you,
Sarah-Joy.
i’m going to tell one of my teachers and hopefully get this started around my school. i think it’s a great project and i’m definitely going to support it!
thts a really good idea..
I was walking to class today and saw one on the map of our school. I was running late, stressed, and in a hurry, but seeing the post-it really made my morning. It turned my day around. I also saw one in the bathroom later! Two in one day!
I’m planning on making some and discreetly placing them around tomorrow. I want to help spread the love!
One day, I was at a gas station, pumping gas into my car, when someone came up to me and said, “You are beautiful” and walked away. I was so surprised, that I looked around to see if someone else was taking my purse out of my car, while the first person distracted me. It’s hard for us to accept the compliment that we are beautiful, whether it is coming from a stranger, friend or even a family member. That’s why the post-it notes are a good idea because, although they are anonymous, they are personal and non-confrontational at the same time. We are less likely to be looking around to see who might be watching our reactions, but we can smile to ourselves and take it to heart, as if we have a sweet secret.
A month or two ago I posted a note inside a restaurant bathroom and forgot about it. Today, my best friend called me and told me about how she went to a restaurant and saw a post-it note on the mirror with an inspirational message. She said she had been having a really bad day but the note made her feel way better and she was going to start posting them too.
Yes, it was the same restaurant and it was my note. To think that it might help people like her everyday is amazing, and to think that people (including janitors) like it so much they kept it up for almost two months is even more amazing. ?
Thank you Operation Beautiful.
That is SO amazing!
operation beautiful is the beeeeze neezeeee!
haha
i loooooooove OB!
this website is really helping others who feel tht they arent beautiful..nd if posting little pieces of paper around saying things\like ur pretty….then ok
Oh this is beautiful! I’ll start my Operation beautiful too ?
kisse from brazil!
I just found this site through Superchik. It’s priceless…I think I might start leaving notes…it’s inspired me. It made my day and I wasn’t having a good day…it made me smile, a real smile in a while. That someone actually cares and about people they might not even know. They just care. It’s…I don’t know…I’m at a loss of words. Just…incredible…
Today a board was put up in our community bathroom at our campus dorm filled with inspirational comments and it put a huge smile on my face just knowing that someone had taken the time to do that. It has inspired me to start leaving little notes in random places telling people they are beautiful. From someone like me who has no self confidence and doesnt believe im pretty-this is something that will help boost my confidence and help me to start thinking positively about myself. I hope this is something we can keep up here at my dorm and hopefully pass on to the other dorms on campus here. This really is just..simply..incredible! I LOVE IT!
I’m a 34 year old mother of 3. I struggled with eating disorders since I was 12. I dealt with Bulemia when I was younger and then anorexia when I was a senior in high school. I have overcome my ED but still struggle with the thoughts. I was inspired by your post-it story. I went out and bought a bunch of post-its. I filled up one and gave it to my 14 year old to put up all over her high school. She was nervous at first but had a friend help her during their off period. As they were walking the halls they saw the most amazing responses. One girl put one on her stomeache and was reading more. It was as if she was claiming the positive self image for herself by wearing the post-it. My daughter walked up to her and the girl said “wow this is awesome. I wish I knew who did this? This is such an awesome idea. It makes me feel so good about myself.” My daughter said “yah it does doesn’t it?” and then they high fived. I have to note this was not a girl my daughter knew. She said she saw kids all over stopping to read them and every time she saw that it made her happy and she was smiling the whole day. She came home saying mom you have to fill out more. I have to put more up. Most of them were taken down. So tonight we will be filling out as many as we can and she will be putting up more tomorrow. Thanks for starting this. YOUR BEAUTIFUL, YOUR AMAZING, YOUR ENOUGH JUST AS YOU ARE!!! Oh and when she got home she checked her Facebook and one of her friends put this in her status. “Don’t feel insecure about one little comment because in the end you’re the one with the Beauty on the inside and out!” I loved that one so much I put it on another post-it and she will see it tomorrow at school. YOUR AWESOME!!!
So I got one of these post-its on my car today. It made my day, but I don’t think it was in the way intended. Someone told me (in bright pink no less) that “Self-love is _Your_Birthright_.”
I could tell that it was supposed to be feminist (female supporting, if not political) but I was surprised that in a city as liberal as portland someone felt the need to encourage breaking a masturbation taboo.
Now that I know what’s going on, I think its pretty darn cool. Just… I would encourage people to think through their messages. XD
I’m keeping the post it.
hahah oh my! i dont think someone considered what that could mean! hehe. well, both kinds of self love are your birthright!!
I was so inspired by this
I live in merida mexico and decided to do his
I went to a hospital and put notes on the mirrors and inside the stalls
I went to a reseraunt and went back to the hospital I asked my mm if I could go to the bathrooms and my mom said, nena (my nick name) why would you go? your just going to ge discouraged…..
I went anyways and ALL OF THE NOTES WERE THERE!!!
i was soooo excited and happy!!!!
thanks 4 the amaizing idea
hi, i just found out abt this site and i think it’s a WONDERFUL idea. Just to let you know i thought i was weird writting stuff like that on to my notebook but i never thought it’ll actually exist, I’m really glad that someone actually made a site like this. This would definately help those ladies and little ladies out there who have low-esteem. It’s totally brilliant and i think i’m gonna start writting little notes on to the school toilet mirrors. Thanks:)
You’re beautiful even when you’re round <3
i just found this site after surfing around collegecandy.com, and i think it’s great, i’m going to introduce this as an idea for phi theta kappa to see if we can get as many girls as possible to spread the word. there’s probably around 30/40 girls at the ptk meetings and i’m sure tons more in the online group.
When i found a nte in the bathroom it brightened up my day!
this website is pretty cool ill start putting up notes!
i love OB……. U gv me sum good abt me….
i thought im ugly!!!!!!!!!
This is an amazing project! Count me in.
Hi, I’m from Lithuania. I was just surfing the net when i founded this website with cheered me up. I was tired. I was angry on one of my friends but now I don’t care what he said because today I realised that my opinion is more important then anyone else. Thanks. It realy halped me ;D I will try to help others with this. ;D ;D ;D ;D
P.S sorry for grammar or spelling mistakes (I’m just 14 years old but I realy whanted to write to this website)
Good luck for everyone
I think this was a really awesome idea! It will help a lot of girls out there.
Peace*Love*Music
Sammi
This is awesome
you never know what lives you
touch with these simple messages.
it could make all the difference
for even one person.
Thanks for linking to my blog! I was checking out my “blog stats” and saw you guys referred people over! I love the work you guys do and how many people support it (including me!), so keep it up
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