My face, seeing the most stunning, inspiring, and amazing person looking down at this email right now:

Today’s Positive DONUT is full of everything, from skeletons that give back, to one loved-and-lucky kitty. Let me know which sections of the newsletter are your favorites; I love hearing from you!

Have a fantastic week 🥰

—Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today's newsletter takes ~3.47 minutes to read (923 words).

Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here for free.

I am exactly where I need to be

Every October, Jeff Robertson’s front yard in Holly Springs, North Carolina, transforms into something magical, and just a little macabre. What started as a few goofy skeletons in funny poses in the yard has transformed into Skeletons for St. Jude, a viral, nationwide movement that raises funds for kids battling cancer.

It all started in 2020, when Robertson set up his first big Halloween display to give his neighbors a laugh during the pandemic.

One day, a family visiting from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital stopped by with their daughter, who was fighting cancer, and her laughter changed everything. 

• “For that moment,” he said of her looking at the yard, “she was just a kid again.”
• He added a St. Jude’s donation sign to his yard after meeting the family. Soon, people weren’t just admiring the skeletons; they started to donate.

After four years, Skeletons for St. Jude has raised $650,000+ for the Memphis-based hospital, which provides life-saving pediatric care at no cost to families. Hundreds of homeowners across the country—from coastal suburbs to snowy cul-de-sacs—have also joined in the fun, building their own skeleton displays that link to the same donation page.

But the real story isn’t the spectacle. It’s the kids. And for Robertson, it’s proof that even a holiday about ghosts and goblins can bring out the best in people. “It’s about joy,” he said. “If a few skeletons in my yard can help save a child’s life, that’s the least scary thing I can imagine.”

As daylight diminishes, your body's natural sleep-wake cycle shifts. Deeper, more restorative sleep becomes essential—and that starts with a mattress that truly supports you through longer nights.

Tuft & Needle's temperature-regulating mattresses work harder when you need them most. Pair with their cooling pillows and breathable bedding to create a complete sleep environment optimized for any season.

Francine the cat could be what some consider a local legend at the Lowe’s store in Virginia where she’s lived for the last nine years.

🔍 So when the calico cat went missing last month, residents around town were understandably panicked. An impressive viral search ensued, involving security camera footage and thermal drones, with tens-of-thousands of people following along on social media. Francine was eventually found safely at a distribution center 85 miles away in North Carolina.

A little over two weeks after her disappearance, the kitty received a hero’s welcome back home.

🐠 The power of a pop star…Taylor Swift just made waves at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. After she was spotted in a vintage aquarium tee, fan demand got so intense that the nonprofit reissued the long-retired design, with proceeds supporting ocean conservation.

🥼 Eighth grader Kevin Tang has been crowned America’s new Top Young Scientist thanks to his new creation, "FallGuard"—a fall detection system that can “accelerate emergency responses to falls among older adults at home, even in the dark."

📻 Back to the basics: UK startup Karri developed a “screen-free smart phone” for kids ages 5-13 to stay in touch with loved ones without the distraction of a screen. Their inspiration behind the design? The walkie-talkie.

I've been working lately on creating some positive affirmations for myself. Affirmations, when repeated regularly, can greatly impact our lives.

📝🧠 Let's do an exercise together. At the end, you should have your very own positive affirmations, completely personalized to you.

1. Take a few moments to identify any negative beliefs you may have about yourself (ex: I'm always late to everything).
2. Write the opposing statement or positive belief (ex: I am always on time).
3. Make the statement as personal as possible to your specific situation (i.e.: when I have plans with people, I always give myself enough time to get there early and relaxed).

Keep your affirmations positive, personal, and to the point. Enjoy!!

🤗 Bottom line: As they say, consistency breeds excellence. Write down your affirmations on sticky notes, then hang them on your bathroom mirror, desk, fridge, etc.—basically wherever you'll consistently encounter them.

Sweater weather is here, the leaves are turning, and it’s time to fall in love with your wardrobe. COZYTOBER® from Wantable delivers:

• 9 handpicked pieces
• Plush sweaters & easy denim
• Versatile layers for stylish comfort

Plus, keep 1+ item and unlock a seasonal gift (up to $65 value).

Welcome to What’s Your Win, the section of the newsletter where we celebrate all the good news happening right here within our Positive DONUT community.

Sadly, we didn’t receive any new submissions this week (cue tiny violin 🎻), so I’ll be featuring some of my favorite wins from editions past. Maybe they’ll inspire you to send in your own. Check them out below!

🙏 Claire N. from Michigan is finally loan-free…

• “After 11 years, last week I submitted my LAST student loan payment!!!”

🎭 Andi L. from Wisconsin is ready to hit the stage…

• “In the sense of main characters, I got one of the lead roles in my schools One Act Play! I’ve been practicing my acting for years and am ecstatic to have it pay off!”

❤️ Ali M. from Idaho is in awe of her students…

• “I'm an 8th-grade teacher and before state testing, we had the students say one nice/positive thing about themselves, and their answers were SO CUTE!! "I'm a really good son" "I help my mom a lot" "I'm awesome at drawing" and "I'm a creative thinker" were some of them. Coming from these moody 8th graders, it just reminded me how precious time is and how kids are just kids! I love this whole group and being a teacher - and hopefully helping them to see the best in themselves :)”

Welcome to our brand new Positive DONUT Recs section, where myself and the DONUT team (& maybe subscribers like you!) will be recommending some of our favorite finds across different categories each week. Life can be hard sometimes, and these products are always meant to make your days just a little bit better.

💪 For the gym rats… I’m four months postpartum, and as I slowly get back to regular exercise, I’ve been loving the SWEAT app for all things fitness. Built by women, for women, the app features over 60 programs with 13,000+ workouts that you can do at the gym or home. Try out their free 7-day trial here.

📚🎃Here’s a Halloween read for all my bookworms out there. I just finished Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill and loved it. This cozy fantasy read is based on ancient English folklore and narrated by the mythical lake-dwelling Jenny, an underwater monster who’s life gets turned upside down when a witch is thrown into her waters…

Do you have something you just can’t get enough of lately? Simply reply to this email for a chance to be featured in a future newsletter.

Today’s trivia brings you all around the world. How many can you get correct?

1. What's the only US state that borders just one other?
2. What's the driest place on Earth (non-polar)?
3. What and where is the oldest man-made structure on Earth still standing currently?

🥹 Can I be real with you? "What's Your Win" is my favorite part of the newsletter. When I started brainstorming Positive DONUT nearly three years ago, this section was one of the first things on my vision board; I wanted a place where people could feel safe and supported to share their day-to-day wins with a community of like-minded and positive individuals. How special is that? 

However, we've been struggling lately to get new submissions. So let me know – is there anything we could do to this section to improve? 

• Would it be helpful to submit your wins anonymously, or maybe a specific prompt would be more helpful to get those creative juices flowing? We'd hate to scrap this section, but with 20,000+ of you, we need your help to revive it! 

🙏 TYSM in advance. I read every response and appreciate any feedback you may have🥰.

And, while we're on the topic, submit your wins here to be featured in next week's newsletter. It can be something as simple as cleaning your room all the way up to a huge work promotion or engagement – like high-stakes poker, the win limits do not exist! 

Submit your win(s) here.  

1. Maine
2. Atacama Desert, Chile
3. Göbekli Tepe in Turkey

Advertise with us: Want to reach other optimistic and engaged readers like you? Become a DONUT partner here.