Knock-knock…anybody there?

Writing my first Positive DONUT after a summer off on maternity leave has me feeling a bit like this:

I hope you’ve had an amazing two months and are ready for a newsletter chock-full of feel good news from around the world. It’s so nice to be back 🥰.

Have a fantastic week!

—Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today's newsletter takes ~3.38 minutes to read (873 words).

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I am more than enough exactly how I am.

Most people slow down at 80...Bob Becker decided to run 135 miles through Death Valley. 

The octogenarian has always had a competitive streak—snowball fights, high school track meets, you name it—but his most impressive battles have been fought on the ultramarathon circuit, with races stretching far beyond the standard 26.2 miles.

It all started in 2002, when then-60-year-old Bob and his friends decided to run a marathon together.

• While training casually in the months leading up to the race, Bob fell in love with the sport and community that came with it.
• 20+ years and 50 ultramarathons later, and Bob has circumnavigated the globe through the sport in his golden years.

Last month, the runner became the oldest finisher of California’s Badwater Ultramarathon, a 135-mile trek from the lowest point in North America to the gateway of Mount Whitney.

• Considered one of the hardest footraces in the world, with desert temps topping 115°F and the last few miles completely uphill, Becker crossed the line in just over 45 hours, crushing his previous attempt at the race from three years ago.

His training? Dragging SUV tires, logging 20-mile hill repeats, and sweating it out in a sauna to prep for the desert heat.

Even after fractures, failed finishes, and doctors raising eyebrows, Becker says age is just a number. “If somebody else can do it, why can’t I?” he told The Washington Post. His persistence has inspired strangers—one even credited Becker’s grit with helping them choose life over giving up.

Looking ahead...Becker has said his most-recent race might be his last ultramarathon…but his coach isn’t buying it. “He’s still discovering what he’s capable of,” she says. “Be like Bob.”

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👆 Meet Jacob Ryan Reno, a portrait artist whose portraits are, well...awful. And he’s the first one to say it.

• Jacob is a stand-up comedian, actor, and performance artist who has built up a client base in recent months with his self-described "terrible portraits." 
• He creates his artwork for nothing more than smiles and a good laugh, drawing each masterpiece in five minutes for $5. 

Jacob vows never to get better at drawing: “Actually,” he shared with CBC, “I intend to get worse.”

🚑 Sticking with the “you’re never too old” theme… Read the story of 76-year-old Ed Levien, who has responded to 3,300+ emergency calls and worked 13,000+ unpaid hours as a Maryland EMT.

🎥 Assistant director Hillary Cohen worked in LA for 15 years. She was always flabbergasted by how much leftover food went to waste on film sets, and finally decided to do something about it. Read about Every Day Action’s story and mission here.

🐥 The first new Peanuts musical in 37 years is finally out on Apple TV. Rediscover Charlie Brown and his classic gang for yourself (word of advice: don't try to kick the football).

Check out this five-minute deep relaxation meditation to reduce stress and get your zen on. Whether you’re a meditation pro or brand new to the practice of mindfulness, taking five minutes to care for yourself is something we can (and should!) all squeeze into our days.

Try it out here.

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Welcome to What’s Your Win, the section of the newsletter that highlights all of the good things happening right here in our Positive DONUT community. Big or small, there’s always something to celebrate. Check out some of this week’s wins below!

❤️ One anonymous subscriber from Nashville, Tennessee, is proud of her son…

• “Our oldest son finally paid of his debts. It’s been a long time coming and I am very proud.”

📚 Laura J. from Jamaica, Vermont, is taking a chance on herself…

• “I decided to leave the teaching profession after 20 years to reinvent myself. What that even meant, I did not know at the time. I just knew my pilot light was out. After lots of reflection and soul searching, I randomly found myself wandering into a library to inquire about storytime for my daughter one day. The director said our youth librarian is leaving and is downstairs doing her final storytime. I thought hmm, a sign? I love kids and I love books, why not apply! Got the job and never looked back. I started dreaming of going back to school so I could learn more about being a librarian. I thought if I could only go for free... The universe responded. I said my wish out loud to my coworker and she shared that Vermont offers a free program to earn a Certificate of Public Librarianship (CPL). Sign me up. Even more exciting, our board of trustees is paying me for the hours I spend in class. What a deal! I'm halfway through the program learning about all the wonderful things I never knew about being a librarian. I am so glad I took that leap of faith. Proud of myself for leaving what no longer let my light shine. It feels good to be thriving again.”

✍️ Casey S. from Indiana is crushing her goals…

• There is still more work to do, but I met my goal of having my manuscript with my editor before the end of this summer. 🥳

🥰 One anonymous subscriber from Washington, DC, is remembering their worth…

• “Instead of wallowing in the idea that people I had reached out to recently didn’t like me (and therefore no one likes me or wants to be around me so I’d spend the rest of the year isolated again), I tried again and everyone said yes! even my half sister! I have planned a friends brunch, a sister weekend, a coffee, and a camping trip as a result. Yay!”

P.S. Don’t see your win? Don’t fret! We received so many submissions, we can’t fit them all into one edition. Check back next week to see if yours is featured.

Here’s a round up of summer-themed trivia questions while we still have some beach days and BBQs left.

1. In the Southern Hemisphere, summer begins in which month?
2. Which fruit is often called the “picnic fruit” and is more than 90% water?
3. At which US national park was the hottest temperature on Earth recorded?
4. Which 1975 Steven Spielberg movie is credited with creating the concept of the “summer blockbuster”?

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. December
2. Watermelon (alternative answer: strawberries, which are also 90+% water)
3. Death Valley National Park
4. Jaws