Happy Tuesday! We're back with another packed issue of Positive DONUT, the newsletter where we celebrate all things good🥰.

My goal by the end of this edition? To have you going from a bit like this:

to a bit like this:

So what are we waiting for? Without further ado, Positive DONUT... 

—Kailyn 🥰

Ready, Set, Go: Today's newsletter takes ~2.45 minutes to read (653 words).

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I radiate love, light, and positivity.

Around 50 years ago, Ludwika Mickevicius left her home country of Poland to immigrate to New York City. She made the move in hopes of starting a better life for her family––her beloved husband and two children––and arrived in New York with little money.

• Ludwika started working at a small dive bar in the East Village near her apartment, and soon became a neighborhood staple. 
• The regulars got to know Ludwika and looked forward to seeing her friendly face at the bar. People in the neighborhood started calling her Lucy.

The real story

...starts a decade later, when Lucy became the owner of the very same dive bar where she had worked since arriving in New York. She renamed the little bar "Lucy's," and spent the next four decades serving drinks and a smile to the neighborhood.

Until: The bar always paid for its space on a casual month-to-month lease, but after the East Village had become one of the hottest neighborhoods in Manhattan and new ownership took over, Lucy soon realized that she wouldn’t be able to make rent.

• It broke her heart, but she announced she would be closing her doors.

The neighborhood, distraught by the dive’s possible closing, quickly rallied to try and save Lucy’s. That’s when Jon Neidich, CEO of Golden Age Hospitality, stepped up to the plate. 

• Neidich had lived above Lucy’s for years and sparked a friendship with the now 84-year-old; he had also been a bartender at Lucy's in the 90's. 
• The high-end night club director approached the new landlord and cut a deal to save the space––and he decided he wouldn’t change a thing.

“Places like Lucy’s are disappearing in New York, which is why I’m adamant this remains Lucy’s,” Jon said. “Luckily, I’m in a place in my career where I could take it over and help. Sure, if you want to order a martini here now, you’ll be able to get one. But we’re still using normal ice cubes here, not large ones.”

After some very basic renovations, Lucy’s reopened to the public last month. Lucy, of course, showed up in all her glory.

While Lucy has moved on to a happy and well-earned retirement, Jon is making sure the beloved East Village grandmother is taken care of, paying her a wage, benefits, and health insurance as well as a 20% share in the bar.

“Saving the bar was part of it, but it’s also about making sure Lucy still has a livelihood,” he told the NY Times. “As everyone says, what makes Lucy’s special is Lucy.”

+Note: This story previously appeared in a March 2025 edition.

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British-Nigerian shoe designer Liz Sanya woke up earlier this year with one goal in mind—to design and build the world’s largest sandal. After working around the clock for 72 hours to complete it, she officially submitted her shoe for Guinness World Record consideration.

The massive pink clog measures 10+ feet in width and 26+ feet in length.

+Note: This story previously appeared in a Jan. 2025 edition.

🏊‍♀️ Maya Merhige is a California teen who has swam the Catalina Channel, English Channel, and circumnavigated 20 miles around Manhattan. Most recently, she completed a daunting swim across the Cook Straight in New Zealand. All of her swims are to raise money for children’s cancer research; so far she’s raised $125,000.

🐶 Can I pet that dog?? A new small study by researchers at Chiang Mai University in Thailand found that petting a dog may be the easiest way to reduce stress without medication.

🏠 Claire Cao was a senior in high school when she created ShelterBridge, an app that connects users in need to highly reviewed shelters and homeless services in their area.

+Note: These stories previously appeared in a March 2025 edition.

Grab your journal, pick one or two of the prompts below, and get writing 🥰.

1. What are three boundaries that protect your peace and mental health?
2. Who in your life helps you feel seen and heard?
3. What are your personal strengths and talents?
4. Write a letter to your future self, expressing your hopes and dreams.
5. What can you do today to prioritize self-care and nurture your mental health?

P.S. If you wanna swap notes or share a story, just hit reply.

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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!

❤️ Dena O. from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and her husband are experiencing the touching reality of married bliss...

• "Today my husband and I are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. It was hard work, but we made it and love each other more every day. Here is to another 30!"

1. In which country would you find Mount Kilimanjaro?
2. What is the 4th letter of the Greek alphabet?
3. Who has won the most total Academy Awards?
4. How many faces does a dodecahedron have?

(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. Tanzania⛰️
2. Delta ✍️
3. Walt Disney 🏰
4. 12 😮