Is it Tuesday already? I don’t know about you, but the weeks are flying by lately faster than an excited dog with the zoomies.

In a world where the news can really weigh you down, Positive DONUT is here to remind you that oh, there are still good things happening all around. Let me know which stories and sections of today’s newsletter are your faves: I love hearing from you!

Have a fantastic week 🥰.

—Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today's newsletter takes ~2.95 minutes to read (786 words).

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I create my own path and walk it with joy.

When American student Maddy Kacmarcik packed her bags for Australia, she was ready for beaches, kangaroos, and late-night adventures. What she wasn’t expecting? To meet her future husband on the side of the road.

How it went down: After a night out, Maddy and a friend spotted two guys their age walking home in the same direction as their Airbnb. With Uber charging 3x surge prices, the guys were trying their luck at hitchhiking. The girls pulled over to check on them, ended up giving them a ride, and—plot twist—they spent the rest of the night playing cards together.

• One of those hitchhikers, Travis, instantly clicked with Maddy. But by the next morning, disaster: no numbers exchanged, no last name remembered. All Maddy knew was that “Travis” worked a specific job in the area.
• Cue: a deep dive into Facebook sleuthing.

It worked. She found her hitchhiker-crush, reached out, and the two picked up right where they left off. Fast-forward 18 months, and Maddy and Travis said their vows in a small US courthouse wedding. Today, they’re celebrating four years of marriage.

Looking back, Travis can’t believe the odds. “I feel like my life would be completely different if I blinked and looked the other way that night. This is 0.0001% chance of it happening—and it did," he told the NY Post.

Sometimes love really does show up when you least expect it. Just…maybe don’t try your luck with roadside hitchhiking to test it😉.

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Is another person’s fine art media.

San Francisco’s 47-acre recycling and recovery center is more than just a dumping ground, it serves as a treasure trove for Bay Area artists in residency, giving them the opportunity to scavenge materials for use in creating new pieces.

Earlier this month, the trash-to-treasure artwork from dozens of artists was on display as 2,000 people attended the opening of a free exhibition, which featured 35 years of artwork from the center.

Stop on by. The exhibition is open through the end of the month and includes ~50 pieces, from paintings produced with recycled house paint to tapestries made from used ties, shirts, and other fabrics.

🌍 Let there be light…In rural Ghana, solar-lit libraries + digital tablets are sparking literacy and boosting girls’ school enrollment. Proof that knowledge really is power🔋📚.

🌻 Rose’s garden…A UK farm planted an entire field of sunflowers to honor an employee battling ALS. The result: a breathtaking show of solidarity in full bloom.

☀️ That's tight bright…Scientists cooked up a solar panel that’s ~20% more efficient. Translation: cheaper, greener energy on the horizon🌞.

If you're ready to channel your inner Stitch👽, try out one or two of these journaling prompts below. 

Don't filter yourself, and let the thoughts just flow. You may be shocked at how much it improves your mood.

1. When do you feel most like yourself?
2. What is something you wish more people knew about you?
3. Is there someone you're currently seeking approval from? What would having their approval change?
4. What's a lesson you've had to learn lately?
5. Describe your perfect day. How can you incorporate some of those things into your day-to-day life?

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Welcome to my favorite section of the newsletter, where we celebrate all of the positivity happening right here in our DONUT community. We received so many entries this week, we can’t fit them all! If you don’t see your submission, keep an eye out for it in future newsletters🤩.

Without further ado, this week’s wins

🎙️ One anonymous subscriber from Las Vegas, Nevada, is jumping into a new career…

• “I got a newsletter from an acquaintance who writes independent novels, and in it he was talking about how much it costs to have an audiobook recorded. I did a little research, and sent him a note asking if he would give me a chance. I recorded a few chapters for him and now am recording three full books for him- which will replace my income for the next three months or so! I'm hoping I can expand this to a regular sort of work for myself.”

🏒 Annie S. from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, is one proud girlfriend…

• “My boyfriend, Dave, works for the Florida Panthers hockey team and they just won their second consecutive Stanley Cup! He's their senior content producer and has been with the team for 16 years! It's amazing to see him document and share this team's amazing milestone with the world!”

❤️ Another anonymous subscriber from Dallas, Texas, is proud of their strong best friend…

• “I have a friend in a really toxic work environment. In fact, I'd go so far as to say her boss is verbally abusive. Today she got up the courage to walk out. She's not sure what's next for her, but she decided she needed to choose herself over the job that was beating her down. I am so proud of her!”

🎓 One last anonymous subscriber from Utah is looking forward to the future…

• “Not too long ago, I was finishing up high school feeling very lost and uncertain. I worked hard and trusted that it would all work out and it did! I've now graduated, and am working at an internship that I love! The future is still uncertain, but I have so much more hope now.”

Note: Some responses have been slightly edited for clarity.

Give your best shot at these riddles below. Which ones can you get?

1. I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?
2. Forward I am heavy; backward I am not. What am I?
3. You see me once in June, twice in November, and not at all in May. What am I?

There's always something to celebrate. Whether it be a new job, a heartwarming conversation with a loved one, crossing an item off your bucket list, or simply enjoying your day a little more than usual, we want to hear about it.

Share your day-to-day wins with us here to be featured in next week's newsletter. Who knows? Sharing the positivity in your life might inspire someone to recognize the good in theirs🥰.

Share your wins here.

1. An echo
2. A ton
3. The letter “e”

P.S. Did you know we recently launched our own games-focused newsletter? If you love these puzzles, subscribe here for more.