|
Constructive optimism
‘You are beautiful’ popping up all over town
By Kelly Carpenter
Special to Splash!
 | | The “You Are Beautiful: message is popping up all over town. Here, it is on the train trestle over 17th Avenue in Pensacola. The trend originated in Chicago and is now in our area. |
|
Wondering why sides of grocery stores and bridges in Pensacola are adorning the message, “You Are Beautiful?”
Travelers along 9th Avenue in Pensacola are told they are beautiful several times. A closed gas station has a sign with marquis letters displaying the message, “You Are Beautiful.” Graffiti bridge on 17th Avenue has the same moniker!
Pensacola might not feel so beautiful right now, with repairs abound. Gridlock on 9th Avenue guarantees a captive audience of all types of motorists involved in rebuilding Pensacola and surrounding communities.
The message intends to convey an optimistic feeling to a stressed out community. There is a “You Are Beautiful” posted on the 3-mile bridge leaving Gulf Breeze heading to Pensacola. Another message was posted on the cross walk at West Florida Hospital, but was destroyed by recent rains. Motorists driving north on 9th Avenue get a glimpse of what used to say, “You Are Beautifu” on the side of a discount store. Unfortunately, it has been painted over with white paint that does not match the original paint.
When questioned about the people responsible for the YAB’s (You Are Beautiful’s) in Pensacola, a Chicago-based group doing similar work says, “The work in Pensacola is actually a group of local people who felt strongly enough about the project. They made their own campaign. They would like to be referred by us as ‘Our Friends from Pensacola.’ The work is absolutely amazing & inspiring.”
The Chicago group also says, “In order to keep perspective, we began to write the statement, ‘You Are Beautiful” everywhere. Just as a simple reminder that from great pain, great loss, and suffering, can come great strength, great beauty, and grace. The purpose is to affect a positive change in those who come across the message. To remind someone wrapped up in the grind of daily life, someone who’s having a bad day or depressed for whatever reason, that things aren’t all that bad.”
When asked how many people are involved, sources say, “We would much rather the emphasis be on the message itself, and not those involved in the project. Interestingly enough, we have found it is much harder than we imagined to keep a low profile and anonymity.”
Pensacola is beautiful. More information can be found at www.you-are-beautiful.com.
| 
