Happy Tuesday. Welcome back to another edition of Positive DONUT, the newsletter where we celebrate all of the good things in the world😍. 

This email is coming to you from my past self—I'm officially on maternity leave (baby girl is due any day now if she's not here already!), so the next few editions will feature some of my favorite stories and moments from past Positive DONUTs. Thankfully we're coming up on four years together in September, so there are plenty of memories and uplifting stories to look back on. 

Thanks so much for being here. Have an amazing week! 

—Kailyn 🥰

Ready, Set, Go: Today's newsletter takes ~3.00 minutes to read (798 words).

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I have everything I need inside of me. I am enough.

Claudene Wilson has worked at The Swedeborg District III Elementary School in Missouri for 32 years. 

During this time, the 64-year-old worked as a handywoman, plumber, custodian, and bus driver. Her most important job, however, was always being there for the children.

For three decades, Claudene greeted every child by name as they came to school in the morning. She stopped by classes with a warm hello and a smile throughout the day, and was always there to help the staff and students in whatever capacity she was needed.

So when Claudene announced her retirement this year, the school community wanted to honor her decades of service. In August, they renamed their school building the “Claudene Wilson Learning Center," so her legacy will live on for decades to come.

• A humble Claudene was shocked at the school’s gesture, saying: “I’m not here to say I’m a hero. I’m not. It’s an honor to work here. I just do it for the kids.”

The support for the move was overwhelming. The school board, led by its president, Chuck Boren, voted unanimously to rename the building after Claudene, CNN reports. 

And in a way, it brings things full circle. Chuck was in the eighth grade when Wilson started at the school in 1992. Now, his 14-year-old son, Canaan, is a student there and gets the same lessons Claudene gave him decades ago. 

He's not the only one: Nearly everyone in the tight-knit community of Swedeborg knows her impact on the school. 

• “If you go out in the community and say you’re from Swedeborg, the first thing they’re going to say is, ‘Is Claudene still there?’” according to the school’s assistant administrator, Mark Sasfy.

Bottom line: While Claudene is honored by the recognition, she shares that more than anything, she just wants the kids at school to be kind. “I don’t want them to be like me. I want them to be nice, kind, and think of others. Don’t argue, don’t fuss, don’t divide. Just (be) nice, humble, smile, and move on.” 

This June for Pride Month, Autio highlights the voices that changed history—and the stories that continue to inspire progress. Explore narratives of LGBTQ+ trailblazers and the transformative events that shaped the very places you walk through today.

• Autio's 23,000+ story database reveals Pride histories often missing from standard guidebooks
• Premium storytelling from co-founder Kevin Costner and celebrated voice artists
• Stories activate seamlessly during exploration—connecting you to the movements that made history

The Odessa Zoo in Ukraine announced the victors of its annual Couple of the Year Contest earlier this year in time for Valentine’s Day. The winners? Masazhik the cat and Bagel the lamb, an unusually bonded pair that beat out several same-species duos for the coveted title.

Masazhik, whose name translates to "massage therapist," is regularly seen at the zoo happily perched on Bagel’s back👆.

⛸️ Teenage sweethearts Jerry and Tally met at the local ice rink ~60 years ago. And they're still skating together to this day.

🎤 Twenty-two years ago, a nervous teenage Natalie Gilbert flubbed the lyrics to the National Anthem before an NBA game. But she recently got another shot at it—with the same coach who helped her through the first rendition standing on the sidelines.

🦭 The rare Mediterranean monk seal, once on the brink of extinction, is seeing its population rise due to conservation efforts. The adorable sea creature has moved from 'critically endangered' to 'vulnerable' on the International Union for Conversation of Nature's Red List.

Over the last month or so, I’ve dedicated myself to practicing meditation and deep relaxation at least five days a week. And wow, what a difference it makes. The simple act of sitting still with our breath can have amazing effects on our minds and bodies.

One of my favorite types of meditation: Guided imagery, where you imagine yourself in a beautiful location or one of your favorite places. Try out this floating-on-a-cloud meditation when you can this week. It’ll have you on cloud nine in no time 💁‍♀️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️.

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We're featuring our wins in the newsletter from this same week last year. No matter how much time has passed, it's never too late to celebrate🥳. 

Check out this week's (past) win roundup: 

❤️ Ashlyn M. from St. Louis, Missouri, is celebrating her better half...

• "Not my win, but my fiance's because he never brags on himself; on our way to a concert, he received a call saying that he got a job promotion at his company, and then later received an email that he passed his cicerone test!"

🧵 Shelley F. is starting a new hobby...

• "I am working my way through my first quilt. Learning a new skill at 58 has been challenging – but exciting as I see it coming together."

🍼 Michelle B. from Pretoria, South Africa, is tackling motherhood like a pro...

• "I became a first-time mom a few months ago. I was woefully unprepared, and the first four months were extremely challenging as my baby was very colic-y. However, this past month, he stopped crying the whole day. He is now a very happy and content baby who sleeps through the night. I am enjoying this phase so much. :)"

👏 Tyrone T. is proving that "one step at a time" pays off in the end...

• "Before 2013 I was having trouble with my life. Then, in July 2013 I sat down and developed a slower than molasses plan to become a better me. For 10 years I have kept a place to stay, kept the bills paid, fixed my health status, learned to not care about what people say or think about me, and found a way to pay for college. I have learned to cope with the hand God gives me. Everything is going good, and the slow pace of getting there helped a lot. I have more to do and that makes me smile. Because happiness and stability is achievable for me. I like the feeling of a win!!!!"

Today's theme is general knowledge. No pressure, but to beat our CEO you'll have to get a perfect score: 

1. Over 70% of the world's population has what color eyes? 
2. What was the first US state? 
3. What's the biggest animal in the world?
4. What is the name of a shape with nine sides?
5. In The Great Gatsby, what is located at the end of Daisy Buchanan’s dock?

(keep scrolling for the answers)

Share your own wins... If you take a moment to slow down and recognize the good things in your life, you'll notice there really is always something to be thankful for🥰.

And if you feel compelled to share, let us know what you're feeling especially grateful for or proud of right here. Nothing is too small or insignificant to celebrate, and we promise to be your biggest hype-people😎.

Submit your or a loved one's wins here for a chance to be featured in next week's newsletter.

1. Brown 👁 
2. Delaware 🇺🇸 
3. Antarctic blue whale🐋 
4. Nonagon 9️⃣
5. Green lantern 💚