My face when I see the most amazing person ever opening this email right now: 

No but for real, when was the last time you gave yourself some credit for how awesome you are? Don't forget to be kind to yourself—nobody spends as much time with you as you! 

I hope you enjoy this week's newsletter featuring some stories from years past (reminder: I'm out on maternity leave). Have a fantastic week! 

—Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today's newsletter takes ~2.22 minutes to read (592 words).

Quick reminder: We’re giving away a $1,000 Airbnb gift card, putting you just a few clicks away from potentially making this situation^ a reality.

How to enter (it’s free): Click here + put in your email before the clock runs out. It’s that easy.

+Pro tip: You can boost your odds of winning by referring friends. Enter the contest for free to learn more.

I am resilient. I am strong. I am capable.

When Jim Isenberg first retired, he had no idea how lonely it could be. After working a long career in both transportation and family and youth services, Jim realized soon after his retirement that without his work, he wasn’t quite sure who he was anymore.

One thing he knew for sure, however, was that he loved being a grandpa.

• Jim craved community; he wanted to put himself out there and meet other men in a similar stage of life. 
• But he was sorely disappointed when he couldn’t find anything of the sort. There were plenty of organizations dedicated to grandmas, but next to nothing for grandfathers.

So Jim took matters into his own hands. And Grandpas United was born.

Jim and his friend, Frank Williams, founded Grandpas United to bring retired men together socially and form a community. 

During their initial get-togethers, they realized many older men needed a renewed sense of purpose. And what better way to provide that than by helping mentor other men?

• Over the seven years since its founding, Grandpas United has recruited around 60 volunteer grandpas (and non-grandpas) in and around White Plains, NY. 
• Members work with young boys and men, mentoring them through early fatherhood, career changes, and basic socialization lessons like shaking hands and preparing for job interviews.
• The grandpas also spend time every month hanging out with neighborhood kids, volunteering in elementary school classrooms to play games and enjoy each other’s company.

On top of helping their communities...Grandpas United members are also helping themselves. Regular volunteering for men over a two-year period increases the size of their brains in the regions associated with problem-solving and memory, NPR reports.

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⬆️👵🏻 Continuing the theme of kick-a** old people: Meet JoCleta Wilson, a Home Depot employee who recently celebrated her 100th birthday. 

The centenarian wakes up at 4am before each of her shifts to have breakfast and do her hair and makeup. She's a firm believer that maintaining a busy schedule—which includes working at the store two to three mornings per week—has been a main contributor to her longevity.

Read some more advice from other centenarians here. 

🛝 Q’s Corner is a North Carolina indoor playspace tailored for kids with all abilities. From swings that can hold wheelchairs to soft playgrounds for children experiencing blindness, everyone is encouraged to play at Q’s Corner.

⚽️ 75-year-old Phil Crossley broke the world record for the longest career of a male soccer referee (58 years!). 

📚🐱 Welcome to Literary Cat Co., a bookstore in Pittsburg, Kansas, where you can cuddle with kitties as you shop—and maybe even take one home.

I was really hit by this powerful Instagram post from therapist John Kim yesterday while scrolling:

Let's decide to be a light, Positive DONUT Fam! It's okay if you're struggling (honestly, I've been there too recently). But let's take one baby step towards brightness and happiness today. 

💛 Need some help getting there? Step number one is simple: Try out this happiness meditation to get the ball rolling. You got this🥰.

Half of us are genetically wired to make processing caffeine a challenge, resulting in jitters, crashes, and sleep disruption. The good news? A Berkeley PhD scientist created Rarebird, using paraxanthine instead of caffeine.

Experience coffee that enhances your life instead of complicating it—aka energy that works as hard as you do.

Welcome to What’s Your Win, the section of the newsletter where we celebrate all of the good news happening right here in the Positive DONUT community. I love sharing stories from around the globe, but there’s just something extra special about hearing what’s going on in your lives.

Check out the submission we received this week!

🤱 Angela D. from Houston, Texas, is one proud mama (of mamas)...

• "I want to brag about what great moms my daughters are to my grandsons. They are 2 months apart and they have brought joy to our lives."

1. Two in a corner, one in a room, zero in a house, but one in a shelter. What am I?
2. Take one out and scratch my head, I am now black but once was red. What am I?
3. A man goes out in heavy rain with nothing to protect him from it. His hair doesn’t get wet. How is this possible?

(keep scrolling for the answers)

Whether you just had an energizing conversation with a friend, went on an exciting first date, or simply woke up feeling extra grateful for the little things in life, we want to hear about it.

Nothing is too insignificant to share. And who knows? Sharing that bit of positivity from your own life could inspire someone else to recognize the good in theirs. 

• Submit your wins here for a chance to be featured in next week's newsletter. Big or small, we want to celebrate you! 

Share your accomplishments here, or simply reply to this email and let me know your wins.

1. The letter “R” 😮
2. A match 🕯️
3. He’s bald 🧢