I walked into a public restroom the other day and saw a Post-it note on the mirror. It said:
“You are beautiful.
You are courageous.
You are loved.
Make today a great day!
operationbeautiful.com”
Naturally, I was curious. The first chance I got, I looked up Operation Beautiful. Now, maybe I’m the only one who has been living under a rock and hadn’t heard about this, but you really should check it out. It’s fabulously awesome! Here’s an explanation from the website:
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.

There are two reasons I love this idea. First of all, love truly does come from within. We are the only ones that hold the key to expanding love of any kind in our day-to-day lives. Often we give our power away to experiences, circumstances, or people outside of us. Once we empower ourselves by understanding that we are intrinsically worthwhile, we’ll have more to give to those within the circle of our influence.
If you’ve ever believed that you needed to change yourself to please the world, then you’ll be delighted to know that you simply need to BE yourself, and THAT . . . is what changes the world. ~Tera Warner
Second, there is no better way to feel happy than to make someone else feel good about themselves. Every day at Operation Beautiful there are stories about how these little notes have brightened someone’s day. The reality is, only YOU can determine how to view, perceive, or define yourself. But reading a note telling you how beautiful you are can never hurt!
Do you love the mission of Operation Beautiful and want to participate? Post a note, take a picture, and e-mail your story to Caitlin at OperationBeautiful@gmail.com. Each note goes up on the site for thousands of others to read and enjoy!
Make a change in this world… it starts with YOU!