Hooray for two years already!

I am honouring my mother as well. She is the reason I believe in myself.

Aww Caitlin CONGRATULATIONS! This post made me smile, and almost made me cry (in a happy sort of way!) I would like to honour my sister. She’s 3 years younger than me, and currently in university in England. My family lives all over the globe, so we don’t get to see each other that often. She’s independent, smart (like, really smart.. she’s doing a physics degree), funny, super stylish, and so positive. I miss her tons and can’t wait to see her at Christmas! 🙂

woo woo! 2 years!

I think like many out there- I would most like to honor my mom. She has taught my sister and I so many lessons through leading by example. For Father’s Day, my dad wanted to go on a family bike ride. He’s a phenomenal cyclist, my fiance is a road bike fiend, and my sister and I dabble in triathlons. My momma- more of a “spectator” type, rented a mountain bike and grabbed a helmet. For 12 miles, she pushed herself, never gave up, and kept her head high- even on some nasty hills! I hung out in the back with her for most of the ride- and her determination to continue was amazing. So thank you momma- you are beautiful 🙂

I would like to honor my grandmother. She is a constant reminder of the most important thing in life: love and family.

I want to honor my friend/ youth leader who died of skin cancer something like 8 yrs ago. Wow I hadn’t realized how long it has been since I saw her walk in a room. Anyways I want to honor Karen because she didn’t use the diagnosis as an excuse to wilt and hide away. But she lived, laughed, and loved as hard and as much as she could. And I can still see her smiling even in her last week. What a way to die… what a way to LIVE.

I would like to honor Caitlin the creator of operationbeautiful.com, for not only has she made me see things in a different light, but all the joy she gives to others. Hopes, inspiration, drive, passion, but most of all she reminds us daily that we are beautiful and a simple note can and will make a HUDGE inpact. Thank you and congrats on two years! Just like Jane Gentry “Dare to be remarkable”

My sister is a beautiful woman who is working hard to adapt to her gluten-free lifestyle while incorporating fitness AND working 40 hours a week at her internship. She is brilliant and I can’t say enough about her!

Congratulations!! I can’t imagine how many people’s life have been changed because of a little sticky note. 😉
I want to honor my Gramma. (She makes me spell it like that)
She is beautiful in so many ways. She’s over 70 and recently lost my Poppy but is more alive than ever. She travels, walks miles each day, does yoga, volunteers at my sister’s school, and so much more. She is my biggest fan and loves so many things I do. I can sit and talk with her for hours about nothing over a good cup of coffee. She is stunning not just for her age, she just is, inside and out.

I can’t believe it’s been two years, time sure does fly. I remember that first post on Healthy Tipping Point.

Today is a perfect day to honour my best friend. She is a truely beautiful person on the outside and in. She works in a womens shelter helping others to find their inner strength, and to find hope again. She is kind, compassionate and smart. And today is her 1 year non-smoking-versary! She quit smoking a year ago, and I am so proud of her every day!

My roommate and I write “beautiful” notes to each other frequently when we are feeling down or even when we are feeling great. It is an amazing way to start the day and see a post-it from a friend that makes you feel good 🙂

In honor of my sister who is the most beautiful woman inside and out I know!

Happy anniversary! I LOVE Operation Beautiful, it’s such an amazing thing, I am totally in awe that you came up with it!

I’d like to honor my sister, who after gettng married and pregnant to an abusive man at 17, has since made her life exactly what she wanted, she has a new husband and a wonderful family. She has an amazing attitude about everything and is a wonderful mother. Her children are a testament to how wonderful she is, and she is a fantastic sister!

I’d like to honor my mother. While I may not tell her enough, she inspires me all the time. She is a wonderful person who raised five kids and started her own accounting firm with pennies in her pocket. Now that I am older, I realize the true leap of faith she took when she took her drastic career change. Like you Caitlin, I am so inspired that her risk paid off and now she is able to live her life how she wants to live it!

Happy anniversary, Operation Beautiful! Congratulations on such a wonderful and positive accomplishment. Chemistry? Psht. Post-it notes all the way!

the woman i want to honor is my amazingly courageous mother, Penelope. my mother was a constant source of joy & happiness. even though she struggled w/ her own weight issues, she was always verbalizing how smart, talented, & yes, pretty her 2 daughters were (are?). we were always perfect in mom’s eyes! Penelope’s vibrant personality filled up any room! She was an art teacher & her enthusiasm for her job & her life, was infectious.

then, in 2004, my mother was diagnosed w/ stage IV lung cancer & given 6 months to live. she never a smoked, so needless to say this diagnosis was a shock to everyone. even through the horrible chemo, the feelings of hopelessness & despair, my mother remained optimistic & leaned heavily on her faith. it’s that optimism that, i believe, gave her the strength to fight the very aggressive cancer. she was even in remission when i got married & was able to dance the night away!

in January of ’09, my husband & i found out we were going to have a baby girl. the first grandchild! i called my mother as we were leaving the doctors office to tell her. she was so excited for us! i also told her that, if she was ok w/ it, we were going to name our baby Penelope, after her. she started to cry, she said she felt “honored”.

however, in February of 2009, my mother’s body & spirit gave up the fight. i was 6 months pregnant & it was a crushing blow to my entire family.

as i’m now knee deep in raising a 2 year old, i get to see how much of my personality was shaped by my mother. the little things i unconsciously do that i learned from her. it’s also wild to see so much of my mother in little Penelope! i cannot wait to tell her the stories of her Yia Yia (Greek for grandmother) & what a wonderful woman her namesake was.

it is still hard to grasp the reality that my mom isn’t around. she would have had so much fun playing w/ her granddaughter…it sucks & it’s not fair that she’s gone! but we all know that self pity doesn’t seem to change much. but my daughter, Penelope’s hugs & smile remind me that maybe my mom isn’t that far away 🙂

The most beautiful person I know is my mother – I’ve never heard her once say anything negative about her body and has always had such a positive outlook on life. She is also one of the most compassionate people I know, always wanting to help others. I love my mom!

My mom has morphed into a strong, strong woman after a lot of hurdles. I admire her willingness to realize not everything she was doing was working well and our relationship is better than ever!

Caitlin, congratulations on two years — we look forward to your continued success and can’t wait for your new book!

I would like to honor my two teenage daughters! Both are strong, independent young women who work hard, care for others, and stay true to themselves. Being a teenager and not giving in to peer pressure isn’t easy and certainly isn’t always fun, but they do their best!

Happy two years!

I would love to honor my twin sister, Amy, for being an amazing teacher and encouraging her students to believe in themselves and continuously grow 🙂

Congratulations on two years! I love this website and this idea! It has given my friends and me more confidence than you could even imagine!

I would like to honor my mom. She is so strong and beautiful – inside and out! Even when she doesn’t feel like anything is going right, she still takes it upon herself to help other people. She has paid bills for other people, shopped for them, taken care of them, and always made my brothers and me feel like we matter and that we are important. She always encourages us and works so hard to make sure we have a good education and a strong and loving family. She is a great mother. I hope I can be like her one day. She is my inspiration. I love her so much! 🙂

Happy 2 Year Anniversary! I want to honor my mom, who puts everyone before herself and somehow manages to give more than imaginable to everyone else.

I know many inspiritual women, but I wanted to honor a woman that I don´t even know personally. I follow her blog for a couple of months now, and she is a true inspiration. Her name is Fleur de Guerre and she is amazing.

I just love all the stories and recaps of how it all came about. 🙂

Happy 2 year!

My friend Lynn is the most beautiful woman I know. She cares for her family, goes to school, volunteers, and survives all kinds of adversity (like the postal service!) with a smile on her face. She is AMAZING.

I would like to honor my friend and babysitter Jessica. She makes me feel like my son is loved, safe, and well taken care of while I am at work. I will always be grateful for her!

I would like to honor my Aunt Mary. She has always been beautiful. She recently lost a lot of weight and underwent surgery for severe back problems that have caused her pain her whole life and she has such a wonderful attitude about it.

I would like to honor my mom because she survived breast cancer, she had to take care of my family during lots of times of needs, she managed to keep us fed and going to the places we needed to, she works part-time, she gets good exercise, and she encourages us to do what we’re passionate or interested in! If it weren’t for this great woman, i wouldn’t have such a healthy pantry that we have now and i wouldn’t be who i am today! <3

Honoring my mom because she is my best friend and inspires and motivates me through everything I try. She is an amazing mother while also being a strong career woman, and has set such a good example for my family.

I’d like to honor my roommate, Joan. She’s always so positive, and her positivity is contagious. Joan teaches theater and choreography to middle schoolers, and she’s such a great, encouraging influence on her kids.

Happy 2 year anniversary! I love that you didn’t set out to start something huge but that it happened anyway!

I would like to honor my sister Elizabeth. She has had a lot of set backs in the last couple of years but she still has a good attitude and she still chooses the opportunities that might not be the easiest but will produce the best results!

My grandma was the most beautiful woman I have ever known. She was independent, kind, funny, and so loving. She was a friend to everyone. She taught me so much!

I would like to honor my mom. My mom is the most selfless, genuine person I know. She taught my sisters and I to always be thankful and appreciate the day. She deserves all the recognition in the world!

Happy Anniversary, Operation Beautiful.
I would like to honor my little cousin, Sophie. She is 8 years old and has yet to be exposed to all of the terrible messages in society that influence and teach us how NOT to love ourselves.
She is truly a beautiful girl whom loves her self and others. She knows she is beautiful inside and out. I wish someone would have told me when I was young that everyone is beautiful as beauty is within. Therefore, I remind her each and everyday that she is beautiful because she is strong, compassionate, and humble; not because she looks like a runway model.

Two Years of Operation Beautiful! Two Years of sharing Love from one beautiful person to the next beautiful person. This world needs real beauty and love to stand up and be seen so that we realize it’s plentiful and contagious. Operation Beautiful is a forum that allows us to stand and shout out thousands of positive messages. OB is simple and powerful. Congratulations to you, Caitlin, and to all your caring readers.

I have to say that not only did operation beautiful inspire me to be more positive, it got me reading blogs and eventually inspired me to start my own blog. The blog that I started has become such a positive outlet for expression for me and its a way for me to practice writing, form relationships, and connect with others.

Thanks Operation Beautiful, thank you Healthy Tipping Point, Thank you Caitlin, and Thank you readers who have shared in it!
Meri

I would like to honor my cowoker, Crystal. She is a strong woman who doesn’t take any crap, but still is classy and well-spoken. She is an inspiration!

Caitlin,

Congrats on your two year anniversary!!
considering how the wonderful things you have done for so many people, thats awesome!

I want to honor my mom and say how beautiful she is both mentally and physically! She has helped me so much through disordered eating recovery and I would be no where near where I am without her. I love you mommy

I want to honor the strongest woman I know-my mother! She slept with me every single night I was in the hospital and not once has her support of my recovery wavered. She brings out the very best in me and accepts me no matter how much I struggle with accepting myself. Oh, plus that fact that she is 54 and still goes to the gym every morning, Woot Woot! Go Mom!

Congrats on an AMAZING 2 years!!

I want to honor my sister, a recent graduate. She is following her dreams and it brings a smile to my face knowing that she has the bravery to do so.

I remember reading that blog post you did with the first OB note. It’s amazing what one simple act of kindness can do for someone. Thank you Caitlin for creating Operation Beautiful. 🙂

My sisters are absolutely beautiful inside and out. They’re my best friends and I love who they are and the passion they have in life to pursue their dreams. I’m so blessed to have them in my life.

This is awesome. Operation Beautiful is awesome.

I want to honor my friend, Leah. When my youth group went on a mission trip last summer, myself and a couple other people got emotional, very emotional. It was to the point where I was sitting on a brick wall with another girl, just crying. I barely knew her. That girl was Leah, and after about fifteen minutes of just tears, we started talking. We didn’t really have the Let’s-get-to-know-each-other conversation. We just started talking about God and relationships with friends and boys. Leah’s make-up was smeared down her face and he cheeks and nose were a birght red. As Leah and I talked, I started realizing that she was one of the most beautiful people I knew, with or without her runny make-up. Leah was going through a very difficult time in her life, and the mission trip could have never come at a better time. Leah and I aren’t really even close; she moved away for college while I’m still in high school, but we check in every once and a while to see how the other is doing. I will never forget that night with Leah, because she changed my view on God, boys, and beauty.

I would like to honor my mom, she has taught me so much and has always set an example of the importance of being yourself and taking care of yourself. She has had to change over to a gluten free diet in the last few years and she has taken it in stride and realizes the importance of sacrifice for something better, in this case, her health.

My goodness, this post gave me chills! Happy 2 yr anniversary to Operation Beautiful! I’d have to say my mom is the one person in my life who has always been a constant… and is the reason why I am the person i am today.

I would definitely have to talk about my best friend. She has been my rock and cheerleader when I’ve felt anything but beautiful. She helps me see the best in myself, and I will always look to her as my role model. She is one of my inspirations that a woman really can have it all. She is tough, smart, successful, and she is proud of herself and her accomplishments. She doesn’t subscribe to the idea that women need to feel ashamed about being confident in who they are.

Hello Caitlin,
Your blog is amazing and so inpiring; YOU are truly a beautiful person and should be so proud of what you have accomplished.

My mother is the most beautiful woman I know. She stays positive even in the face of great adversity and is the truly an altruistic soul. She works hard every second of every day and always focuses on how she can help not only people, but the environment as well. She is amazing and I hope to become more and more like her as I get older!

how wonderful 🙂 I want to honor my best friend, wo is getting married in two weeks. She is going to be the most beautiful bride, inside and out!

Happy OB anniversary! I love Operation Beautiful! You have done something brilliant and inspiring. I am going to honor YOU as a beautiful person. You are strong, passionate, and have a beautiful personality. I look up to you and your blog when I get down on myself and start to deter back to my old eating disorder habits. Thanks for all of the (unintentional) support! 🙂

happy birthday operation beautiful! every woman i know is beautiful!

Happy anniversary to Operation Beautiful! I remember when you first started Operation Beautiful – such a wonderful thing! I would like to honor my Mom…the strongest and most beautiful woman I know!

Congrats on the two year anniversary! I would like to honor my mother who has more strength than anyone I know. She held our family together during my father’s cancer treatments and bone marrow transplant and has encouraged me to always work hard. She makes sure I know I am loved and has been there for me at all times – including visiting me at college for every single awards ceremony I have been honored at. I could not imagine having a better mother 🙂

The most beautiful person I know is someone who has given me a place to stand in my life.
She is my best friend, and she struggles constantly with her body and her weight. She had a struggle with an eating disorder, and a struggle with cutting. All because people would just judge and call her fat.
She can’t see past that, and all I can see in her is this amazing human being who is so sweet, so nice, so compassionate, and so beautiful-inside and out.
So this is my little comment tribute to her. My amazing best friend, who has helped me through so much.

My grandmother. Who despite 4 knee surgerys resulting in deep scars on both legs, always has a positive lookout on life!

Congrats on 2 years! I’ve never sent a picture in, but I’ve posted many notes wherever I go and they never fail to make ME feel better!

I’d like to honor my friend Diana…she’s struggled a lot in life, but hasn’t given up yet! She is beautiful!

My sister is the most beautiful girl, mentally and physically. She is physically 13 years old, but is very young-minded. Being uncomfortable with her body, she dresses herself in baggy jeans and plain T-shirts, and puts a baseball cap over her gorgeous, thick blonde hair. She’s been mistaken for a boy more than once.
When she was younger, she used to throw these raging, furious temper-tantrums. As she gets older, she’s been coming to terms with her attitude and has been catching herself. When she comes home from school, she gives me the biggest hug, and if she forgets, later she will say, “Melody, I didn’t give you a hug today!”
This is a tribute for my baby sister. She’s been through too much that she doesn’t deserve at all. She loves people before even considering the fact that she might not like them. She doesn’t understand why people are evil. She is the beacon of light that represents all beautiful women out there.
I love you Katie! <3

I just adore Mother Teresa and all here humane deeds. That makes her one of the most beautiful women on earth!

Audrey Hepburn, for her humanity, wisdom, grace and the beauty that radiated from both the inside as well as the out.

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

The most beautiful woman I know is my mother. She has had 20 knee surgeries (including three – yes, THREE!) total knee replacements due to running back in the 1970s and the way her knees are aligned. Despite all of the negative things surgery entails – painful physical therapy, annoying crutches, scar tissue build-up and weight gain, she remains the most positive person I know and is a constant reminder that we can choose to be happy.

I even wrote an opinion column about her back when I was in college! http://www.redandblack.com/2009/02/10/choose-happiness-regardless-of-situation/

My mother in law, Charlotte is the most beautiful woman that I know. She has been so kind and open armed since I started dating my now husband in high school! She is compassionate and caring to everyone and always makes sure that we have had a good day even though she works 10 hours a day… Love her so much and I am so glad that I am lucky enough to have her in my life!

YOU are awesome! Thank you for inspiring so many people to rise above their self-hate and learn to embrace the great things about themselves. I already bought the book as a gift for a good friend but I hope I win the giveaway so I can either read it myself or give it away as another gift!

My grandmother is the strongest most beautiful lady I know. She embraces everyone yet still loves herself. She’s an inspiration to everyone around her.

Happy anniversary!
I’m so happy for you and how big operation beautiful has gotten! Anyway the most honorable woman I know is my mother. She is wise, intelligent, brave and overall an incredible woman. She is the reason I am confident in myself and am living a healthy lifestyle.

Happy Anniversary! I would like to honor my great aunt Ellie – she is the kindest woman I know and always goes out of her way to give a smile or kind comment to someone. She is the kind of person I aspire to be.

The most beautiful woman I’ve ever known is my mom. She is no longer with us, but she is still part of my life every single day and i value all that I learned from her.

My mom is the most beautiful woman I know. She’s always believed in me and puts up with my Dad’s sometimes irrationality! She is a strong, hardworker always telling me to go for my passion 🙂

Congrats! I’d like to honor my beautiful and perfect 3 month old baby girl. I pray she grows up and realizes that a lot of the “beauty” out there isn’t real and that true women are beautiful on the inside and outside.

A beautiful person in my life is my friend Jennie. She’s kind, genuine and laughs at my jokes–always a plus.

So glad I have across this site…I seem to always think the worst and reading these words of wisdom lifts my spirit.

Please honor my monther. She is now starting her 7th year of battling cancer. She is not feeling well recently. She has had 20 blood transfusions and several new tests latelty. It looks like the cancer has spread again. Another PET scan next Monday. Through out this horrible journey, my mom is the rock who holds our family together. She also continues to work while going through all this. She was widowed 17 1/2 years ago and lost two of my brothers one as a newborn and one as a four year old hit by a drunk driver.My mom is an inspiration to all who know her. Makes me try to be a better half the women she is…God Bless!

Happy Birthday Operation Beautiful!! This movement is so inspiring and you are a special woman Caitlin who has brought joy and acceptance to thousands of girls who you will never know but they feel as if they know you. I am one of those women and I thank you for all you have done, and will do, for women’s self-love and confidence.

The most beautiful woman I have ever known was my mother who battled beautifully through breast cancer, ultimately losing that battle at age 43. She is missed & loved every day.

My mother is going through an ugly divorce right now but is handling it pretty well. Actually, she might really benefit from some Operation Beautiful notes; you gave me a wonderful idea! 😀

I would like to give a shout out to my little sis who is 15. You are so beautiful, you don’t need a diet to lose weight, and you are the sweetest auntie to baby J. We love you!!!!

I have 2 beautiful sisters and a beautiful mother. Together, we are able to lift other people up as we help others realize their beauty. It is from the examples of my sisters and mother and I have learned to be true to who i am and LOVE who i am. Love operation beautiful!

I’m going to honour my sister in law. She is beautiful inside and out, but is only accepting this now after years of self-doubt and self-neglect. My loving brother brought this out for her to see, and the rest of my family to finally celebrate. Go Claire! 🙂 You inspire, and we respond. Love you!

I wanted honor my aunt…she is an amazingly beautiful and vibrant person who tirelessly gives to others. She lost her husband to cancer earlier this year (he was only 48) and takes amazing care of her 15 year old son, providing him a strong role model in what has been such a difficult and trying time. She continues to “put herself out there” and lives LIFE every day even when she fully admits she would sometimes rather be alone in the corner, crying.

Thanks for such a wonderful and positive outlet, Caitlin…I look forward to reading each and every post!

My sister is the most beautiful woman to me. She has had a rough go round recently with a break up and many life changes. She is always able to keep a smile on her face. She was in a wedding this weekend and I have never seen her so beautiful and radiant. I love seein her so happy and she just radiates her attitude!

My mom is a beautiful person. She’s so selfless and has such strong values and character.

The most beautiful woman I know is my mom. She is turning 54 on Friday and she is always so full of life, energy and amazing to me. She isn’t perfect, but in my eyes, she is a beautiful person, on the inside and outside. She grew even more beautiful after I had my son and I saw how she loved him and her whole world changed because she became a grandma. The way she and my son look at one another has truly become one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. She is smart, full of advice and wisdom, always helpful and I know I can call her any time for anything. She truly is the best mom ever.

I’d love to honour my mom! She’s always been a force to be reckoned with…..she taught me the importance of hardwork, dedication, and perseverance–qualities that I would love to inculcate my future children with!! Thanks, MOM!! 🙂

Congratulations Caitlin on the 2 yr anni!! 😀

I want to honor my sister who is currently six months pregnant. I’ve never seen her as beautiful as she is now. I can’t wait to meet my niece!

I want to honor my friend and co-worker, Jill. She is one of the most selfless people I have ever met. She’s a great friend, wife, and mother.

Happy anniversary! I remember hearing about Operation Beautiful LONG before I ever started reading HTP (although of course I can’t remember how), and I was so surprised when I stumbled across your blog that you were the person behind it. I want to thank you with utmost sincerity for everything you do, including OB – you’re a wonderful person, inside and out.

I’d like to honor the very first person I thought of when I read “a beautiful woman you know”: my mother. Who else?! She’s overcome a lot in her life, including clinical depression, and she has always maintained a quiet grace and strength, no matter what. Everything I am today, I owe to her. Thanks, Mama, for everything.

I would love to honor my incredible mother, Faith. She is by far one of the most beautiful women I have ever known inside and out. She is constantly looking out for others, takes a tremendous amount of pride in all her children, and would do anything for her family. Her confidence and radiating personality will make anyone smile.

I love you so much mom.

As cliche or as overrated as it may sound, a beautiful woman I want to honor is my mother. She is beyond strong both emotionally and physically. She never backs down from anyone and stands up for what she believes in. I love that she speaks her mind. She’s also almost 46 (maybe 47. I don’t know) and can run a household of 14 animals, two children, and a job. I don’t know how she does it.

Congrats Caitlin

My Mum! A wonderful person who puts everyone else first. She is ALWAYS there with open arms, an ear to listen, and a shoulder to cry on. Love you Mum xox

I would like to honor my mom. She has had skin cancer twice and has remained happy, joyful and generous. She is my best friend and mentor. I love her so much.

Congratulations on the Anniversary! I have been following your blog for the last month or so and have really enjoyed it. I actually just graduated this spring with my Doctorate of Physical Therapy. I just accepted a job and will be moving 10 hours away from friends and family down to your home state of NC! It’s very exciting & scary at the same time.
Your post really hit me at the right time. I just recently lost my aunt to a very rare and aggressive form of cancer. She was and always will be one of the most beautiful women I ever knew. She was an amazing wife, mother, and friend to all. She had a great sense of humor and her laugh was infectious. She volunteered frequently and never asked for anything in return. She was beautiful on the inside and out, and I hope that someday I will be able to become even half the woman she was.

this is SUCH a cool giveaway topic!

i’d like to honor my grandma. 94 years old, post triple bipass surgery, and still traveling the globe with her “lady globetrotters” group! she’s a champion.

Congratulations on the anniversary! One of my best friends shared the Operation Beautiful blog with me a few days ago and I think it is such a wonderful idea! As a middle school teacher, I want to try something with this next year at school 🙂

I would like to honor my mom…for about 6 years, she has suffered from a degenerative muscle disorder and has been confined to a wheelchair full time for the past 3 years. As a woman who has overcome many struggles in her life, including being a single mom with 2 kids, she has taken her illness in stride and with a smile on her face (most of the time 🙂 ). While I know she suffers, she is always there to lend a kind word, encouragement, and a smile to others and her “friends in the box” (those who she has met through websites/discussion boards for those with the same/similar illnesses). Her desire to help others has been a such an inspiration throughout my life-even when she is going through hard times herself, she put others before herself.

Her beautiful smile and heart are a daily inspiration to me and to others!

I’d like to honour my Nutrition professor. She is so passionate about food and poverty issues worldwide, and she does such an amazing job of inspiring her students. She’s truly a wonderful person!!!

my mom, she has inspired me everyday and is there reason I am where I am.

My dear grandmother “Mum mum”. She is turning 94 on June 30th and still lives on her own. She has had 5 children (spanning over 19 years) all of whom have thriving families of their own! Her husband died in 1970, her first daughter in 1989, and first son in 2009, yet despite her losses she is everything I strive and can only wish to become. I am proud to call her a very best friend!

My grandmother is the most beautiful person I know! After 7 kids, tragic events happening in her life and turning fully gray when we was 17 she is still the most wonderful, kind caring, beautiful person I know!

I would like to honor my amazing mother who raised three children while going through medical school. She is absolutely amazing.
Proud of you too, Caitlin!

I would like to honor my mother who has had the toughest year yet but still finds the will to go on and be strong!!! She helps push us forward and is my role model! I love you Mom!!!

I want to honor my mother! She’s the strongest, most beautiful woman I know and without her I would not be the independent woman I am today.

Wow, this is BEAUTIFUL!! So Inspiring!

Happy 2nd Anniversary to Operation Beautiful!

I want to honor my best friend. She has an 8yr old w/ autism and a seizure disorder and she always puts her son first, in everything she does. She is an amazing mother, and friend!

Happy 2nd Anniversary Operation Beautiful!

My mom is so beautiful (even now that she is 72, she is aging gracefully). She glows and is always smiling. She has always been such an inspiration to me and still continues to be. I love her so much and appreciate the ability to talk to her on the phone every day (yes, I am very much a mama’s girl). My mom has always supported me and been there for me during the most difficult times in my life.

I’m so amazed at the fact that you got into PT school. But not only did you get in, you took so many classes while working full-time AND while exercising AND while blogging. Holy crap! You’re seriously amazing. I’m currently taking a class right now for PT school (I’m applying next year), and it’s SO hard studying and working full-time. Seriously, how did you do it?! Next semester I will be taking 3 courses. I also can’t believe that you deferred your enrollment. I guess it’s shocking to me because it’s my #1 goal right now & I would never defer haha. I think you are very inspirational and I just enjoy reading your blog.

I would like to honor my best friend Mary. She is about 35 years older than I am, and is so beautiful from the inside out. She loves herself, and everyone around her. She does hero-work as a middle school teacher, and every day she chooses to see the beauty in her students and challenge them to be the best they can be. She is beautiful even on the “fluffy hair days” when she gets so stressed and runs her hands through her hair so many times it fluffs around by the time school is out. She is truly incredible, and has changed my life and so many others by her beautiful spirit.

I’d like to honor my mom, as she is the most beautiful, strong and courageous person I know. When the doctors said “radiation won’t help” she ignored them. She persevered. She pushed through the fatigue, went to those daily appointments “which probably wouldn’t help.” But you know what? It worked. Her tumor shrank. I want to honor my mom because she believed in a miracle and it paid off.

I want to honor my mom as well. She has put a lot of effort to make myself better. She has come to all my sports events when I was in high school. She tolerates me walking around Trader Joe’s or any store in circles, just looking at all the stuff. Even though she may have her weight issues, it’s not about the weight, she is beautiful no matter what; because really, it is the person on the inside that makes someone beautiful

My best friend, Lindsey, is getting married on Thursday! She is beautiful from the outside in, and has such a tender and compassionate heart!

I wanted to honor my sister who is going through a difficult time right now. She is such an incredibly smart, funny, and beautiful woman (just to mention a few qualities). You’ll get through it. Trust me. You rock.

I’d like to honor my little sister Julianne. She turns 19 today and I don’t think she knows what a beautiful, smart and amazing woman she is. I hope one day she will see in herself what I see in her…beauty!

I would like to honor my Great Aunt, Marnie. She is 86 and still going strong. She is wonderful, beautiful, and a woman I look up to. She cares more for others then she does herself. I can only hope to be the same!

I would like to honor my friend Erin. She is an amazing and strong woman and an inspiration to so many people. She is also the ED of GOTR in our area

My friend and co-worker Anne. Besides, sharing a name we have a lot more in common. A few weeks ago she got hit by a car while training on her road bike. As of today she cannot move her left arm. It hurt me to see and hear her hurting and I cannot wait to have her back here (she is currently with her parents). She is one tough cookie and I am sooo extremely grateful to (still) have her in my life!

My Mom is an amazing, beautiful, strong woman who has always encouraged me to live up to any and all dreams that I have.

This may sound weird and conceited, though I do not mean it to be. I would like to honor myself. I’ve been struggling with an eating disorder for over ten years and I finally realized that I am worthy of treatment. I took leave from work so I could get the level of care I need. This is not an easy process, but reading O.B. notes remind me that I am beautiful no matter what.

I want to honor one of my best friends, Courtney. She has struggled with love dramas, self-acceptance, self-love, a disappearing/disappointing father, and is a wonderful single Mommy to her adorable mut Seeley. To me, she is beautiful, not just because of her outer appearance, but because she loves others completely unconditionally and whole-heartedly. her beauty just shines out of her beaming smile, and I wish that when she looked in a mirror, stood on a scale, or looked into someone else’s eyes, she would see and believe that.

I would like to honor my mother. She flew out from Utah last week to help me while my husband was at work. I was going off Anti-Anxiety medication and was emotional and angry. She put up with so much and still loves me. She is amazing, I just wish I could get her to see and believe it.

You are so inspiring. Thank you!

I want to honor my sister, Loreen. She is the most hard working, determined person I know in this world. Our family has been through so much – death, divorce, etc. Without her encouragement and love, I can’t say with confidence that I would be in my last year of college as a nursing major. And yet even though she doesn’t have a big sister (like she is to me) she is in her third year of medical school studying 12 hours a day for boards. Her motivation and love for her family is breath taking, I wouldn’t be the person I am today without her.

My mom is a beautiful woman I know…she is the one who taught me to be a confident, assertive and proud woman! I owe so much to her and I don’t tell her that enough!

My best friend is a beautiful woman. She balances two little girls and a full time job, and still manages to make time for me and everyone else in her life.

I want to honor my mom… who is struggling with MS, and has been for close to 20 years. But she’s always been beautiful to me!

I’d like to honor my “work mom” Liz and her contagious joy for life (plus a little bit of silliness and laughter, too) that always brightens up everyone’s day. Because of her, I’ve become a glass-half-full kinda girl and that positivity makes life feel pretty f’in awesomesauce!

My mother is truly beautiful, inside and out. She’s a cancer survivor who would do anything for her family, friends and the children she teaches.

I’d like to honor Tonya (your neighbor). I read her story a few days ago and her follow up post on the donation page. WOW! I can’t imagine what she is going through, yet her spirits are so high. I get a papercut and feel like my life is about end (sort of!).

And of course, I’d also like to honor my mother because she rocks! 🙂

I’d like to honor my grandmother who recently passed away. She was and always will be an inspiration to me. She was genuine, poised and funny. She loved her family and always was the first to tell me how proud she was of my accomplishments.

I would like to honor my best friend (even though the title best friend does not cut it) Katie Deeds. We have been together since we were in the first grade, and now after completing our first year of college, I am positive that my self esteem and my hope would be shattered to little bits and pieces if it was not for her. She truly is one of the most beautiful persons that I have ever met, she is so kind and loyal, but more importantly she always puts life back in perspective for me. This past year she has gone through so much with me including the death of my grandmother, transitioning to the largest school in the country half way through a school year and breaking up with a true love (The SAME day she broke up with hers!) We wander around our little city leaving your “operation beautiful” notes and she chokes down the healthy food I pull off this website (even though she adores chicken fingers) I could not be more proud of my best friend. Thank you for the amazing site Kaitlyn and do you need an intern?! haha

My mom! She has beat breast cancer now 2 different times and her heart and spirit have never faltered. Never did she complain but only see what she could do to help others. She is truly a hero in my mind!

Oooh, I’d say my mother-in-law, as she’s gone through a really tough bout of rheumatoid arthritis these past few years and still stays upbeat and positive, and is always more than willing to help any of us who need it despite the amount of pain she’s in.

A beautiful woman I know is my mum! I know I’m biased but I do believe she is the most selfless person I know. She’s also beautiful on the outside…mid fifties and I swear she doesn’t look a day over 40!

Congrats on two years! I consider myself one of those that has been (and continues to be) directly impacted by your message and am so grateful.

I would like to honor my friend Zeshan who – at work and home – is surrounded by negativity, but continues to put one foot in front of the other and go after what she wants from life, no matter what the people around her think.

I would love to honor my great-aunt. All throughout my child hood she was always like a second grandmother to me, and now that her sister and brother-in-law(my grandparents) passed, her and my great-uncle filled that void. This year my great-uncle (her husband) passed. Even through this extremely emotional time my great-aunt has remained positive to her core and like a little energizer bunny spreading her joy. In the nursing home where she resides, she goes to sing every day in their hospital center and is such a social butterfly. She is a truly extraordinary woman inside and out, and I could not tell her enough every day that with her never-ceasing JackieO style and glass half full outlook on life, I would be thrilled to live up to her name in my 80’s. Every time I visit her not only do my spirits become uplifted but I re-learn that the trivial things in life are nothing to stress over.

Happy 2 year anniversary!

I want to honor one of my good friends Emily, who has overcome an eating disorder. She has turned her life around and is now living a healthy and active lifestyle. I admire her all of the time for changing her life from fatal to happy!

My mother is truly beautiful. She is the most generous, kind-hearted and humble person I know. She came from difficult beginnings – born into poverty to a sixteen-year-old mom. After raising two sisters, she went on to become a nurse, and acheived a lifelong dream at 42 when she graduated from college. She fought to give herself and her family a better life.

She taught me that giving is always better than receiving, and that reading is one of life’s greatest pleasures. She set quite the bar, and while many girls bemoan the idea of “turning into their mother,” I strive every day to be more like her.

I would like to honor my friend and colleague, Lauren. She has a 6 year old daughter, who has struggled with cancer her entire young life. Lauren never shows signs of waivering; she is always strong, kind, and resilient. She is an inspiration to all!

My sister is beautiful, inside and out. She strengthens me when I can’t hold myself up and understands me when no one else does.

I would like to honor my best friend since birth Patty. She is the strongest woman I know. It seems every time she builds her life to how she wants it, it gets shattered somehow but through it all she just keeps getting back and moving on through life. There are not many people that can say they have known someone, outside of their family, their whole life like us and she and our relationship inspires me to be a better person each day.

Happy two years 🙂

I want to honor my mom. She is judgement free and has a great heart!<3

I would like to honour my friends Sujala and Gail. Neither really knows it but in the early points of my luncacy (e.g. signing up and starting to train for a half marathon).

Both were supportive (Sujala would run solidarity runs for me and Gail agreed to run my first 10K with me- the NYC Mini!) and both have believed that I would do it since the beginning. Absolutely beautiful women inside and out.

I would like to honor my Mum! The most beautiful and inspirational person I know in so many ways! I can only hope to grow in to the same person, who is now helping me through one of the tougher phases of my life. To my best friend – my wonderful mother, the optimist!