It’s our last edition of the year – can you believe it?! 

From delivering positive news from around the world, to simple mindfulness practices, to plenty of wins submitted from subscribers like you – 2024 has been an amazing year for Positive DONUT.

To all 23,400+ strong of you, thank you for being here. I’m so grateful to be a small part of your week-to-week. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and a very Happy New Year. See you in 2025!

Until then, onto the positive…

- Kailyn

🚀⏰ Ready, Set, Go: Today's newsletter takes ~2.60 minutes to read (693 words).

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I am a valued person in the world. I am blessed to lead the life I lead.

Seventy-two years ago, 27-year-old Pud Johnston and his brother Eric opened a quaint Christmas tree farm in Eastern Ontario.

Every July-December since then, Pud has spent his days pruning and caring for trees in preparation for the holiday season.

Yes, you did the math right: Pud is 99 years old, with no plans of retiring any time soon. Now a family business, the Johnston Brothers Tree Farm is Pud’s pride and joy, selling thousands of trees each holiday season.

• Pud credits his health in his old age to working on the farm, sharing with the Washington Post that: “It keeps me fit, and I think it’s one of the reasons I’m 99 years old,” he said. “I can still prune very effectively.”

🎄 A family tradition: The farm is now managed by his son, Kerry, who, like his dad, has “always been a tree guy.” Kerry cut his first Christmas tree at age 8, and had pruned and planted before that. The men hope to pass down the Christmas tree farm for generations to come.

“I’ve stayed fit and active,” Pud said of his career. The job also requires him to spend time in nature, which he loves even more than the Christmas season itself. “I’m happy, I’m confident, I’ve always been satisfied with what’s happening.” 

And when asked if he expects to be pruning Christmas trees next season, Pud – who will turn 100 in October – had no hesitation. “Absolutely,” he said. “Yes, I will be."

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The Rockhampton Zoo Director Liz Bellward can now put "dressing up as a rogue cassowary" on her resume. 

As part of the Australian zoo's first live escape drill earlier this month, Bellward donned a costume and wreaked fake-animal havoc during opening hours to put her staff's extensive training to the test.

• “Up until seeing the costume, no one was aware that it was a drill," she shared afterward. "The team rose to the challenge and did exceptionally well under pressure and surprise.”

P.S. In case you were curious, a cassowary is a type of flightless bird native to the tropical forests of New Guinea, The Moluccas, and northeastern Australia.

🎄 Who doesn’t love a cheesy Hallmark movie? Science says it's not truly the Christmas season until you cuddle up to watch a sappy holiday rom-com (probably). Nothing like a cheesy script, holiday costumes, and fluffy “snow” (in a movie that was no doubt filmed in July) to usher in the holiday spirit. Need inspiration? Check out a list of cozy holiday movies here.

👑 A redemption story… Kennedy Johnson was only 15 when she gave birth to her baby girl in a foster home for teen moms. Now, she's considered a queen in Ghana. Read her incredible story here.

🏝️ The little island that could… The tiny Canary Island of El Hierro could teach the rest of the world a lesson. Via harnessing wind, hydro, and possibly geothermal power, El Hierro has set its sights on becoming the first island nation to be entirely self-sufficient (energy wise).

With all the hubbub about mindfulness in the media, sometimes it's best to take a moment to return to the basics. 

I loved this article from The Washington Post with tips for a healthier and happier life. Check it out for their deep dive; otherwise, here are the big takeaways: 

1. Stop and listen to the birds 🐥 
2. Take care of your teeth and gums 🦷
3. Channel your inner Betty White 🧓🏻
4. Do a five-minute breathing exercise 😮‍💨
5. Hug and hold hands 🫂
6. Let your mind wander 💭

Interested in more? Check out the full article here. 

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Welcome to my favorite part of the newsletter, What's Your Win, where we get to celebrate all of the good news happening right here within our Positive DONUT community. Big or small, there's something to be grateful for every single day. 

Check out this week's submissions! 

💪 Brian F. from San Diego, California, may just be a superhuman…

• "Did the final tally of the Veterans Day fundraiser I organize called Burpees For Vets and raised $262,971! I personally did 2,000 burpees and raised $2,000!"

🍩 Peter N. from Austin, Texas, is grateful for the journey...

• "A little over six years ago, I started a newsletter-focused news organization out of frustration with the bias and sensationalism present in the news industry (on both sides). Since that day, we've delivered nonpartisan, enjoyable news to tens of millions of people – with that number only increasing daily. And while we receive a lot of hate from extreme ends of the political spectrum, we also receive a plethora of messages from regular Americans who say the way we deliver news has transformed their mental state positively – or given them the courage to reach out to estranged friends with differing political views. To think that something I started can positively transform lives and inspire human connection is honestly flooring – and that's something of which I'm extremely proud."

Whether you had an energizing conversation with a friend, beat a sickness, met a milestone at work, or booked a trip you were always dreaming about, we want to hear about it.

There is always something to be grateful for, and no win is too small. And who knows? Sharing a bit of positivity from your own life could inspire someone else to recognize the good in theirs🥰. That's what Positive DONUT is all about.

So what are you waiting for? Submit your wins here for a chance to be featured in next week's newsletter. We want to celebrate you!

Share your accomplishments – big and small – here.

1. How many pieces of holiday mail and packages will the US Postal Service deliver this year between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day?
2. Which American pop singer spent her early years growing up on a Christmas tree farm run by her parents?
3. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in the US in which decade?

(keep scrolling for the answers)

👆 Check out the referral prizes you can get, just for introducing people you know to little old us. 

What to do: Copy your unique link below, then send it to anyone who you think would like Positive DONUT. Once you hit each milestone, you'll get an email with a link to claim your prize.

Start referring.👇

1. The USPS expects to deliver ~15 billion pieces of mail and ~800 million packages between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. 
2. Taylor Swift, who loved growing up on the 11-acre farm in Reading, Pennsylvania (hence her song “Christmas Tree Farm," written and released in 2019).
3. The 1960s. Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 to unite the African-American community. Modeled after traditional African harvest celebrations, the weeklong holiday is celebrated as a cultural holiday; many people celebrate it in addition to other religious traditions.

Hit that reply button and let me know, I read every response. Have a great week, and Happy Holidays!🥰

–Kailyn

P.S. Enjoying this newsletter and want to support my work? It'd mean the world if you told a friend or two about Positive DONUT. You can even win sweet, sweet prizes for each person you refer using your unique link (found two sections above).