The first thing I thought when I opened up Operation Beautiful was “wow, why is my handwriting not as pretty as all these other women who wrote post-its? Seriously, did the pretty penmanship female gene just totally skip over me?” Then I realized that starting off my journey into Operation Beautiful with a negative thought would not be very fitting… so I pushed my handwriting insecurities aside and immersed myself in the messages published before me.
I wasn’t sure what I as expecting, or if I was expecting anything at all, but once I started reading the first page and Caitlin opened up with such honesty, I was drawn into the book. As I turned the pages, I felt the positive messages begin to fill me up. It’s no secret why Operation Beautiful is such a success… it’s uplifting, supportive thoughts are what women have been in need of for years.
I’ve been so interested in reading the personal stories that fellow bloggers have been posting about their own body image experiences, and feel compelled to add my own observations into the mix…
When I think back to when I was growing up, I can’t quite remember when I was first introduced to “fat talk”. In fact, it isn’t even always ‘fat talk’… sometimes it’s “my nose is too big” talk, or “my thighs are flippin’ HUGE talk”. But despite not being able to pinpoint the moment it entered my life, I do remember it being the way I unintentionally bonded with female friends. We’d sit around and someone would complain of their “muffin top”… to which each girl must then respond with a derogatory fact about their own personal appearance or risk not fitting in. It was comical in Mean Girls… remember when they are all insulting themselves in front of the mirror, and when Lindsey Lohan’s character doesn’t say anything, they all stare at her in an uncomfortable way until she hesitantly admits to having awful morning breath? Hilarious in the movies, but not-so-much in real life. Through high school and into college, at cheerleading slumber parties or getting ready to go to frat parties, the negative girl talk continued. Although, I do remember this one particular, self-confident girl had the nerve to admit she actually liked her hair while my friends and I were all cursing our straight, or curly, or flat or frizzy hair. We all looked at her and scoffed…. How dare she like her hair!
To be honest, it is really only in the past year or so I’ve noticed this odd style of female “mean girl” bonding. They say the first step is recognizing you have a problem, right? Well, luckily I recognized it! I noticed it right about the same time I began to focus more on my health, and less on the size of my pants. I started to see that my “fat” thighs were actually quite strong and allowed me to go hiking and camping with Hubbs. I found when I started appreciating what my body can do and wanting to take better care of it, I wasn’t so focused on bashing it.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not perfect. Sometimes I’ll check myself out in a bathing suit and my eyes start to wander to those old “trouble” zones… but now instead of wasting time wallowing around in my own self-pity, I smear on some sunscreen and enjoy a day splashing around in the lake with Hubbs and K-dizzle (both who happen to think I’m pretty wonderful the way I am ;)).
When I get around my girlfriends, I sometimes slip back into my old habits, and join in the conversation by pinching my thigh or swearing I have crows feet forming… but you know what I finally am realizing? That stuff isn’t very much fun to talk about. And not only am I over insulting myself, I’m over hearing my girlfriends insult themselves. There are reasons I pick the friends I have… they are all funny, charismatic, intelligent, beautiful, fun girls… so now when I hear any of them talk down about themselves, I do my best to tell them how wonderful and amazing I think they are… just the way they are.
Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts… I didn’t mean to go on & on, but I really was inspired by the positive movement Caitlin started, and now, here’s your chance to see what it is all about.
Operation Beautiful’s publisher sent me a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader!
To enter, simply leave a comment telling me one thing you like about YOU. (my answer? I like my sarcastic sense of humor… and my smile…because I use it often and usually get a smile in return :)) You can enter again by tweeting about the giveaway, and leave me a message letting me know you did. I’ll pick a winner Wednesday night!
Good luck, all you beautiful people!
For more information on Operation Beautiful, please visit http://operationbeautiful.com/
Holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
One thing I like about myself? There are actually quite a few 🙂 But I love my attention to detail — I can remember the smallest details, birthdays, names, addresses, phone numbers, etc. I think people really appreciate when I notice the small things and remember the smaller details.
Rachel says
Girl, I am with you on the penmanship jealousy lol. My mother has the most beautiful handwriting, and mine is barely legible 🙂
The things I like most about myself are: My eyes, which are bright green and very unique. My hair, because no matter how much I beat it up, process it, heat style it, it somehow stays healthy and strong. My cheekbones, which are high and pronounced and actually warrent a lot of random compliments.
crunchy granola gal says
I love how fearless I’ve become in allowing myself to be true to me regardless of how I think others will feel. Very empowering!
Amanda says
I love my eyes. They are just a shade greener than Hazel and ever since I was a little girl people always used to tell me that my eyes were so pretty.
When I my fiance and I had started dating I told him that I loved his eyes – I never realized that we had the exact same eye color!
April @ Crazy Fabulous Life says
*I’ve already won a giveaway for this book so please disregard my comment as an entry!*
I love this post so much. It’s so easy to forget how awesome our bodies are, you know? I’m still working on that and all these OB blog posts have been amazing inspiration.
Megan says
I love my smile. 🙂
Paige says
Great giveaway and wonderful question!
One thing I love about myself is that I’m incredibly patient. I didn’t realize it for a long time, but just in the past few years I’ve become very aware that it’s what makes me successful at a lot of things–but especially in relationships and in the workplace. It can be both a blessing and a curse (I do find myself putting up with things for a long time that maybe I shouldn’t…) but for the most part it has a very positive impact on my life.
Autumn @ Good Eats Girl says
This is an awesome post! I want to read her book, it sounds so great! One thing about me that I like…I’ll try to list a few…my eyes, my willingness to go the extra mile to make someone smile, my sense of humor, and I’ve grown to love my hair as I used to despise it!
tanyasDailyProductReviews says
great post…..and great giveaway!
Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum says
I like my arms. Swimming made them strong (wayyy back in HS) but I still have some of that muscle tone and I’m proud of it 🙂
Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum says
and I tweeted! 🙂 Can you tell I want to win?!
Lisa @ I'm an Okie says
I love my lips! luscious and beautiful!
Lisa @ I'm an Okie says
oh and wanna hear a funny story?
I remember one time I was on the phone telling my mom I didnt like my nose…I meant to tell her that I wanted a nose job…but I accidentally told her “I want a blowjob”..
awkward!
meeyeehere says
I am funny and have a great sense of humor! The girl who told her mom she needed a blow job just made me laugh so hard that I inhaled cheese into my lung and made me cough for 5 minutes.Still coughing!! Thats great!
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com
haphazard inspiration says
I like that I’m open to new experiences and adventures.
christina says
awesome!! i love my sparkly green eyes 🙂
Mary @ ferventfoodie says
I love my eyes and my big brains 🙂
Katie @ Healthy Heddleston says
I love my eyes!! They are such a light blue color 🙂
Katie @ Healthy Heddleston says
Just tweeted!!
Blond Duck says
I like that I’m disciplined. I went to a college where girls would have meltdowns if they went from a 2 to a 4, and it really warped me. It wasn’t until recently I started addressing a lot of my negative habits and outlooks. I’m going to look into this and considering doing a post on it.
Nichole says
I would have to agree that you’re pretty fantastic:) It’s such a terrific issue to raise awareness around and spread the message of love and acceptance. The stats for ages when young girl start dieting is absolutely astonishing.
Very sweet giveaway my dear!
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
that note is awesome…the location is perfect too 🙂
i love my blue eyes and my strong body. i might not be a stick, but i can lift heavy things and fend for myself 🙂
Brittney says
I like my eyes! A boy once told me they look like a stormy sea 🙂
thatShortChick says
I *LOVE* my smile and my legs.
Jessica says
i love my blue eyes and dark hair and my determination to accomplish all the goals i set for myself!
ashley7357 says
Britt, I just love your blog. I try to read it everyday…and click on it a few times throughout the day. I especially like what you wrote about today. It’s so true about the negativity and life is so much better if you stay positive about your looks, etc. And if I don’t win your giveaway, I def plan on purchasing it. My positive thoughst about myself of what I like are my eyes, legs, and smile because I just love to smile and it seems to be contagious. 🙂
Kaley says
I like my intelligence and open-mindedness. 🙂 I really want to win!
Shawnee says
Great post! I think this is an awesome movement. I love my hair (I’ve been letting it go natural and the waves are coming out). Someone actually asked me if I had it professionally done. Talk about a confidence booster. 🙂
Jane says
Great blog Brittany!! You are such a talented writer! I like my sick sense of humor and the fact that I love and care about people.This sounds like a book I need to buy if I don’t win! Thanks for bringing it to our attention!
Lana says
I love my determination to succeed at things I love. Physically, I love my smile because it s the one thing that can pick someone up when they are down!! I sooo want to read caitlins book!!
Great blog! I love the honesty in this post.
Melissa says
There is such truth to your post! I too enjoy reading, so please continue writing. 🙂 It is always so difficult for me to pick out a physical characteristic that I love about myself. I am still working on that part. But I do love that I am self-motivated and honest.
Cara says
Great blog!! I love that I have recently discovered how to be self-motivated and dedicated to commitments that I make. I also love making a positive difference in someone’s life while smiling every step of the way!
Hayley says
If I don’t win a copy of the book I will definitely go out and buy one! Caitlin has seriously started a major phenomenon….I’m so proud of her! 🙂
I’d have to say the one thing I like about myself is my ability to always look on the bright side of things. Even when I feel at my lowest or when life becomes very difficult I always remember that I am very fortunate and that things could always be worse!
Mac says
I am very excited about Caitlin’s new book being out! It’s such a fun and uplifting movement! What I like about myself is my smile (gotta love the chompers 🙂 ) and easy-going attitude!
Lelia says
I like my eyes, because they are blue, and because I really do try to see people for who they are. And, for reading blogs like Healthy Slice of Life. 😉
Martha says
You’re so cute Brittany – I just love your blog. The question that you’ve posed has proven to be very thought provoking for me… which is a testament to how often we tend to criticize ourselves rather than praise ourselves. I could list a million things I don’t like… but thinking of something I love about myself is much more difficult. I’d have to say that I love my red hair because it makes me unique, and now that I’ve passed it along to Ben, I can appreciate it even more because it is something special that we share. I also wanted to tell you that I’m an early morning runner, and I definitely don’t eat anything before I go. It’s just too early to wake up with enough time to digest anything. Even though it’s torture waking up early, I always feel so refreshed afterwards – it’s the best way to start the day!
TheHealthyapron says
What an awesome giveaway! I’m so excited!
I love my caring nature and fun sense of humor. I also love that my body is capable of running, walking, working out, and just functioning in general! There are SO many things in which to be grateful for that we just take for granted! I started realizing a few years ago that all this time I spend obsessing about my looks and weight is not worth it when you think of the situtation other people are in (without legs or arms, etc). I just love me! And I’m so proud to finally be able to say that!
I will be tweeting this giveaway too!