Saturday Notes – March 13, 2010

Check out the new “Change How You See, Not How You Look” Articles:

 

• How I Overcome Binge Eating (© of Oh She Glows)
• Binge Eating: While You Shouldn’t Feel Ashamed (© of Oh She Glows)
• Magazines vs. Reality (© of Oh She Glows)
• Superwoman Syndrome:  The Dangers of Overtraining (© of Oh She Glows)

Anonymous posted this note.

Alyssa wrote, “My mom found an Operation Beautiful note a while back. I’ve been battling with an eating disorder for 3 and 1/2 years now and I’m finally getting the right treatment this year. The note was posted in the bathroom of my treatment center. It’s so encouraging to know that other people are out there trying to prevent other girls from being insecure. I think it’s a wonderful cause. I’m 17 and am finally learning to love myself. This project is amazing. Keep it up!”

A man wrote, “I put little notes like this all over my school. I am a guy that just wants to make people smile.”  It says:  “If you are lucky enough to be different, don’t change – you are beautiful!”

Kaleigh wrote, “My friend and i came across this site a few weeks ago via givesmehope.com and were completely hooked.  We were so utterly moved by the thought of making a strangers’ day without even knowing it.  We began to start the movement ourselves at our school but did not want to be credited so we did it anonymously.  Several days after we began, I was sitting in history when I overheard a group of girls talking about the "weird post-its people were leaving on the mirrors in the bathroom." I was devastated. I was stunned that there were people who could ever make fun of such an amazing thing.  I went home feeling crushed that all of our efforts were being mocked.  I then logged on to Operation Beautiful and my faith in the movement was completely revitalized.  Maybe the post-its wont help everyone but as long as it means something to at least ONE person, then it has been successful.”

Talia has been posting this “note” on different websites.

Valerie wrote, “As a mother of two daughters, and as someone who has struggled with a negative self-image for most of my 37 years, I deeply believe that it is not only a good idea, but critically necessary that we do everything we can to change the self-destructive behaviors we, as women, engage in.  By that, I don’t mean to imply that men don’t have negative self-image – I’m sure they do – but it seems that as women we not only constantly denigrate ourselves, but we encourage one another to do so as well.  I am wildly in love with Operation Beautiful for taking the opposite tack – encouraging one another to love ourselves and celebrate all the things that make us the wonderful, brilliant, beautiful women that we are, on the inside and the outside.    It’s easy to ignore it when friends or family members tell you that you’re beautiful no matter what – we don’t believe them because, after all, they love us (never thinking about the fact that there must be a REASON they love us enough to say this!) and it fades into the background noise.  But when you see it out of the blue in a totally unexpected place – well, then it really makes you think.  I love it.   I’ve posted this note on the bathroom mirror at my office – and others exactly like it in the elevators here and the bathroom mirror at my younger daughter’s elementary school.  My older daughter has taken several to post in the bathrooms at her high school.  I’m also always looking for new places to get the message out to women my own age, women with families and jobs and so many responsibilities that their own needs are so often ignored.  I think it’s important to start telling girls at a young age that they are beautiful and that may or may not have anything to do with looks – but I also think women my own age and older desperately need that reminder and reassurance.  It’s so easy to lose that confidence and self-love in the course of daily life.”

If you want to participate in Operation Beautiful, post a note, take a picture, and e-mail it to Caitlin at seebriderun@gmail.com.  Spread the love!