For most of us, there exists a common understanding: as the temperature increases, the amount of fabric decreases, and the world ought to be a judgment-free zone where clothes and bodies are concerned.
Unfortunately, two employees at the Superdrug in Truro, England, didn't get the memo, according to a widely shared Facebook post by a young woman named Harriet Rae.
Rae was doing her shopping on July 23 when she said she overheard the two workers making rude remarks about her appearance and her cutoff denim shorts.
"Don't worry, I heard the comments you made to each other about my appearance and my shorts," she wrote in the post, which has been shared over 55,000 times. "Its obviously not the first time you've had a giggle ... but when you do it normally, the person you talk about probably looks away and you actually make them feel really sad inside.
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"But today, by the looks on your faces you really weren't prepared for the massive cheesy smile I gave you!" she continued.
"If somehow you end up reading this ... Can you be a little bit kinder with your words? Some peoples skin isn't as thick as mine has become and the next persons might be very thin indeed."
While making the case for kindness, Rae decided to model the shorts for the two employees, too.
"In response to your comments, I send back some love!" she wrote below the photo, which showed her standing barefoot on some grass rocking her cutoffs and a big smile.
"If you did your own hair and make up for work today, you are both very talented. I could never get my winged liner or my ponytail that perfect!"
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In an update to the original post on Monday, Rae wrote she was contacted by reps from Superdrug who offered a formal apology and said that they would use her post in employee training going forward.
She declined to give a description of the employees, insisting that the point of her post "was to spread kindness and positivity, not embarrassment or hurt."
TODAY reached out to Rae for comment, but didn't hear back.
We applaud her for taking the high road, and hope others inspired by her attitude will do the same next time they have the chance.