You Are Beautiful.

I was recently reminiscing about when I worked part-time at Barnes & Noble, and this is still one of those haunting memories. I bounce back and forth about my post-it note postings. It seems that each time I am reminded of it; I end up revisiting this activity.

My personal goal in life is to try and spread good cheer, laughter and beauty along to those in my life. To my friends, my family or strangers, through conversations, artwork, emails, interactions, social media and blogs. Now my topic tonight is not about my usual aliens, trailers or fart jokes. This is a whole different Oprah.
You are beautiful.

I think these words are very important for people... especially women to hear. If you are lucky enough to hear these 3 words everyday, then great for you. But I feel as a society we have such a skewed opinion of beauty that it is becoming impossible to feel beauty without the help of witch-craft trickery or expensive products and procedures. This year I have taken it upon myself to give people compliments as I think them. I have also tried to reach out to strangers and pay a compliment forward. As most of you know, I work part-time at B&N. Everyday I see people come in and ask for titles of books about topics that vary. I do not judge these people who have the courage to ask for books about self mutilation or dealing with an abusive relationship. Instead I offer any assistance I can provide. I help people looking for diet books and self-improvement books. If the contents of the pages will help these people in any way than I am always willing to help someone find a proper book to help them increase their knowledge on whatever topic they desire. I see a lot of people who are outgoing enough to ask but more so I seek out people who look lost within the bookshelves.

My job here at the bookstore has inspired me to, every day before my shift, write "You Are Beautiful" on a post-it note and stick it to the mirror in the women's bathroom. I do this for the women who pass through the door of the restroom and will hopefully gaze upon the mirror and see right next to their reflection the positive message that every woman needs to hear. No matter their race, age, abilities, weight, height. Married, single, straight or gay. We all deserve to hear it, feel it and know it.

I would like to think that this may have a reaction on the customer attitudes who shop within our store on the day of my message. I know that seems vain or biased, but I really do believe people who see my message are in a happier mood. I also like knowing that of all days I have posted my message, that the post-it has remained on the mirror for the enitire day. Only once was it removed within minutes or hours of my posting it and I hope the person who took it down was the one person that needed it hear it the most.

This note or blog is being written as an attempt to make up for a day...this past Saturday...where I had forgotten to put the message up on the mirror. It was on this day, that I came across a person who I wished would have seen it. Late in the evening, I saw a teenage girl hiding in the manga section reading a book. Her head was constantly down, with her nose in the book and she avoided interaction. I noticed her behavior and shyness and made it a point to go over and ask her if she was finding everything ok and if she had any questions then she could ask me. As I approached her, it was here where I noticed the top of her head. She had red hair tied back in a ponytail and an inch of white roots. Her eyes looked up and I saw she had black mascara on to hide her white eyelashes. When her eyes looked at mine I saw that she was truely what I had thought she was...an albino. Her irises were a teal/blue color and her pupils were a darken reddish color. Striking because they were not like any eye color I have ever seen. She was doing her best to fit in by applying color where ever she could, but her eyes could not hide what she really was. I spoke with her for a bit. A polite conversation, but I could sense her uneasiness. I feel like on the one day where I meet someone who has this unconventional beauty that I am certain goes unnoticed, it is of course this 1 day that I forget to spread my important message. I hope my actions towards her made her feel accepted or maybe I am putting too much thought into it. However, this has been my regret since yesterday/ Saturday.

I would like to pass the story and message to all of my friends. I would also like a chance to personally tell every one that "you are beautiful". I think as women, we are raised to believe in competition and cattiness. That there is a pecking order of beauty. I too, believed this. Now I am not declaring that I am perfect. Nor do I claim the "cat" doesn't come out every now and then. But I am aware of this and am trying to change it. I would like to encourage all of you to also engage in the spreading of this message. A post-it note on a public restroom mirror. A conscious effort of passing along a compliment to a friend or stranger. It could change a bad day into a good day, but it will at least change an attitude.

But please remember.. you are beautiful!