Operation Beautiful (www.operationbeautiful.com) is a fantastic source of hope and inspiration with an amazing message. I recently had the chance to interview Caitlin of Operation Beautiful. Here’s what happened..
1. What is Operation Beautiful, for those of us who aren’t familiar with the concept?
Operation Beautiful is simple: people post affirming notes in public places, take a picture, and e-mail it to me. I post it on the site for others to read and enjoy. The mission of Operation Beautiful is to post anonymous notes in public places for other women to find. The point is that WE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL. You are enough… just the way you are!
2. How did Operation Beautiful start?
I was going through a stressful time in my life – I was working full-time, running my personal blog (Healthy Tipping Point), training for a marathon, and going to night classes at the local community college. I often found myself feeling depressed and miserable. I fought negative self-talk daily, a habit that I thought I had rid myself of when I trained myself not to engage in “Fat Talk” about my body. One day in June 2009 was particularly bad, so I decided to write “You are beautiful” on a piece of notebook paper and stick it on the mirror in the college bathroom. I felt happier and lighter as I wondered who would find my note and what they would feel while they read the positive affirmation. I posted a photograph of the note on my blog, and my readers began to write their own notes and e-mail them to me. Later that week, Operation Beautiful was born, and the site has been fighting negative self-talk in all of its nasty forms ever since
3. What is the ultimate goal of Operation Beautiful?
The goal is to raise awareness about Fat Talk and negative self-talk and teach people how to replace those destructive habits with more positive ones.
4. How can fierce frosting’s get involved with Operation Beautiful?
Post a note, take a picture, and e-mail it to Caitlin at seebriderun@gmail.com. Each note gets put on the site for thousands of others to read and enjoy!
5. What’s the best thing about running Operation Beautiful?
The best thing is waking up each day and seeing wonderful notes and stories in my email inbox! It makes me so happy to see so much positivity in the world.
6. How has Operation Beautiful influenced your life?
Running the site has made me a more sympathetic and understanding person. People go through so much in life and it’s so important to take the time to understand why they are the way they are.
7. What is next for Operation Beautiful?
The Operation Beautiful book will be released on August 3. The book includes 125 of the most amazing, inspiring, and motivational notes I’ve received. The book also includes tips from real women and professionals on how to live a healthier, more balanced life. I really believe this book is a great gift for a friend, sister, mother, or even yourself! It’s available for pre-sale on Amazon, Barnes and Noble,Borders, and Indie Bound.
8. How responsible do you think mainstream media are for society’s perception of beauty?
I think the media has a huge impact on us, especially in creation of the false “Thin Ideal.” 99% of images in magazines are photoshopped. How can little girls or teenagers begin to understand that this is not real or attainable? It breaks my heart.
9. What message would you to fierce frosting’s reading this?
Change the way you see, not the way you look!
10. What’s the best thing to come out of Operation Beautiful?
My favorite Operation Beautiful story was sent in by a teenager who was in treatment for anorexia. Her disease was very serious, and the doctors were concerned it might kill her. Her therapist had convinced her to eat solid food for lunch instead of a diet shake – something she had not done for months – and the girl snuck to the bathroom to throw up. As she closed the door of the stall, she noticed a little note that read, “You are good enough the way you are!” with the website address on the bottom. She wrote me to say that the little note literally saved her life – it was a tremendous turning point for her, and she was now out of the hospital and regaining weight. She felt the note was a message meant just from her from God. I’ll never forget reading that email!
What did you think of the interview, frostings? Let me know!
Lots of love..
Kat xo.