Happy Tuesday, and welcome back to another edition of Positive DONUT, the newsletter where we celebrate all things GOOD.

If the news has you feeling a little overwhelmed lately, I get it. Consider this your permission slip to sit back, take a deep breath, and enjoy a few minutes of joy. Let me know which sections and stories are your favorites—I always love hearing from you!

Have a fantastic week🥰.

—Kailyn

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

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I am grounded, safe, and secure. I trust the path of my life.

For most kids, receiving mail means birthday cards or the occasional college brochure. For Rosie Paulik, however, it means something much more: a handwritten note from her dad, every single day.

• Her father, retired Ohio professor Buz Ecker, began writing Rosie letters when she was little—slipped into her lunchbox, tucked into her backpack, and later mailed to her college dorm. 
• By adulthood, she had collected 3,500+ notes from her Dad—a tangible timeline of encouragement, jokes, and wisdom.

Fast-forward to this year, when Rosie shared their story on TikTok. The internet, doing what it does, made the idea go viral.

• Suddenly, strangers from across the world were asking if Buz would write them a letter, too. 
• Some were going through breakups, others grieving a loss, others just in need of a little kindness from a dad in their mailbox.

And instead of brushing it off, Buz grabbed his favorite pen.

Together, he and Rosie launched the Dad Letter Project, a free initiative that aims to send personal, handwritten letters to anyone who requests one. 

• So far, they’ve mailed 1,600+ letters—each one unique, heartfelt, and full of a little love from Buz and other dads.
• The letters don’t always promise solutions. Sometimes, they’re just reminders to keep going, or a simple “I believe in you.” On its website, the Dad Letter Project is described as a “hug, but on paper.”

Bottom line: In an era of push alerts and quick-scroll texts, the project is a reminder that some things—like an old-fashioned letter from someone who cares—never go out of style.

Wondering if that mystery meat kibble is actually nourishing your pup? Ollie's fresh, human-grade dog food is made in US kitchens with real ingredients you can actually pronounce. No fillers, no by-products, no preservatives—just the best quality for your best friend.

Watch your furry friend transform: shinier coat, more energy, better digestion, and genuine excitement at mealtime. With 20k+ 5-star reviews, customized portions, and 5 drool-worthy recipes, even the pickiest eaters clean their bowls. Plus, you get free health screenings to keep them thriving.

☝️ Wellington, a stray pig who roamed the streets of Maryland for months, just found his forever home in Pennsylvania—where he’s living like a dog. Literally. 

• Wellington's new family says he wags his tail, goes for leash walks, and curls up on the couch like a golden retriever with hooves. 
• After dodging animal control and surviving on scraps, Wellington now has a fenced yard, canine (and piggie) siblings, and plenty of belly rubs.

You could you say he's in...hog heaven.

❤️ Healthy dads, healthy kids: A new program in Scotland is allowing fathers in prison to reconnect with their children through healthy play, parenting classes, and shared meals. The program proved so successful in its first trial that 23 other prisons around the country have began to run it at their own locations.

💪👵🏻 Meet Ednajane Truax, a 90-year-old “super ager” who claims the secret to growing old is always staying active. How does she do it? According to her: “Trapeze school and house parties.”

🤖 The good side of AI: Young Indigenous individuals are turning to AI and robotics to help preserve their native tongues, many of which are predicted to disappear in the coming decades.

If you’ve been around for a while, you know I’m a big fan of journaling. The simple practice of writing out your thoughts on paper has some amazing effects on both our bodies and minds.

✍️ But don’t just take my word for it. Try setting a timer and free-writing for 10 minutes today, then see how you feel. If you need a little help getting started, feel free to use one of the prompts below.

1. What are five small moments that you were grateful for in the past week?
2. When was the last time you did an activity for only you? When can you do it again?
3. If you could have any career, what would it be and why?
4. How would you like to be remembered when you are gone?
5. List your favorite activities from when you were a kid. When was the last time you did any of them?
6. How would you describe yourself to a stranger?

Right now, a child sits without a classroom—her dreams of healing others put on hold not by lack of talent, but by lack of a building. Thinking Huts uses 3D printing to build solar-powered schools that change everything for children like her.

• Your donation creates immediate impact: $25 prints a classroom wall, $100 funds local construction teams, $1,000 powers an entire solar campus

Welcome to my favorite part of the newsletter, What’s Your Win, where we celebrate all of the good news happening right here in our DONUT community. Now I love writing about positive stories from around the world, but I love sharing your daily wins even more.

Check out the submissions we received this week!

🤩 Michelle G. from Pennsylvania is putting herself out there …

• “I’ve been a stay-at-home-mom for 14 years and finally decided it was time to re-enter the working world. Knowing the job market is tough right now, I figured it would take me a while to find the right fit. I saw a listing for a dream job and applied, feeling nervous about my age (I’m in my 50s) and a lack of up-to-date skills. I got a call that day and after 3 interviews in the span of 2 weeks I was offered the job! First full time job I’ve applied to in over 20 years - how amazing is that? I started two weeks ago and absolutely love it - my co-workers couldn’t be better and I’m so happy to be contributing to a wonderful organization. I’m convinced it was my enthusiasm and positive attitude that made me stand out!”

📘One anonymous subscriber from Louisiana is stepping out of their comfort zone…

• “I am excited to be nearing my goal of indie publishing a trivia book of over 1660 clues based on a game I host on a website run by and for the blind. The book is called “Trivia Factory” and is divided into four main chapters: Who, What, Where, and When. I have hosted this game for nearly a decade now, and I hope the book picks up traction. I am attempting to reach out to several trivia podcasters, a couple blind YouTube influencers, and possibly several trivia YouTube producers. And you too. Thanks for a chance to be heard!”

❤️ Laurie J. from Alabama (soon to be Florida!) is proving that it's never too late to bet on yourself...

• “After 40 years of being divorced and single and 15 years of bad health, cancer, etc, I’m healthy and 66 years old and found the love of my life! It feels so good; you are never too old to find your happiness.”

Note: Some responses may have been slightly edited for grammar or clarity.

Take your best shot at solving the following riddles. How many can you get?

1. What has many keys but can't open a single lock?
2. Which month has 28 days?
3. What building has the most stories?

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. A piano 🎹 or keyboard ⌨️
2. Every single month has at least 28 days 🗓️
3. The library 📚