OMG, it’s really you!

Thanks for being here for another week of Positive DONUT, the newsletter that celebrates all things good. In a world where things can feel extra heavy sometimes, I hope to provide a reminder that there are still things to be celebrated all around.

Reply to this email to let me know which sections are your favorites (or some weekly wins), and have a fantastic week! 🥰

–Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s newsletter should be a ~3.52 minute read (935 words).

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I trust that everything is unfolding for my highest good.

A curious kid, a patient bus driver, and a decade-long full-circle moment have combined to remind us that small kindnesses can have big mileage.

Let’s rewind…Back in fifth grade, Sam Mencimer was the kind of kid who always had questions, especially about buses.

• On his daily ride into Washington, D.C., on the city's Metro bus, the 10-year-old would pepper his driver, Joy Kenley, with questions about everything—from how routes were planned, to where buses “slept” at night. 
• And Joy never brushed Sam off, answering every question she could.

One day, she asked Sam if he and his family would like a tour of the bus garage, and he jumped at the chance.

• Sam got to climb into the driver’s seat, press the buttons he’d been so curious about, lower the wheelchair ramp, and even change the destination sign, just like a real driver. “I thought that was the coolest thing ever—still do,” Sam said.

That tour left an imprint. Over time, Sam’s fascination with transit only grew. After internships with D.C.'s Metro, he was eventually hired as a full-time signal engineer, still driven by the same curiosity that lit up those early bus rides. 

Meanwhile, Joy shifted to the rail side of the system, becoming a station manager.

Months ago, Sam looked up Joy in the company directory and found she was still working at Metro. He visited the station she managed—and after more than a decade, Joy recognized him right away.

Now the two work under the same agency banner, each keeping D.C. moving in their own way. Joy told CNN she remembered him as the kid who always asked “a million questions,” and was genuinely touched to learn she’d inspired part of his career path. For her, encouraging young riders was “just part of the job,” Joy said.

WarriorWOD pairs veterans struggling with PTSD with battle buddies who've walked the same path. Add structured fitness and personalized nutrition, and something remarkable happens: healing.

The results speak volumes—31.7% improvement in mood, 29.8% reduction in hyperarousal, 31.2% less avoidance. Over 2,500 veterans have found not just symptom relief, but renewed purpose and reclaimed joy.

This peer-led approach is transforming how veterans recover from invisible wounds. 100+ more are waiting for their turn to join, and your support helps get them into the program.

When UK magazine Woman’s Weekly asked readers to knit toys for shelter cats, they didn’t expect the results to be quite so… enor-mice 😉.

🧶 The magazine shared a free pattern and invited subscribers to stitch tiny wool mice for cats in shelters waiting on forever homes. Then, the mice started flooding their London HQ.

• By the end, readers had sent in 46,506 handmade mice, enough to set a new world record.
• The toys have now been donated to 300+ animal shelters across the UK, just in time for the holidays.

❤️ You’ll never believe the story of Zach Zarembinski and Isabelle Richards. The two met in the hospital after they each woke up from comas following separate accidents, in a coincidence that changed both of their lives—and led to them getting engaged.

🏈 The NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign just kicked off its 10th year, with athletes, coaches, and staff wearing customized cleats to show support for causes close to their hearts. This year includes cancer prevention, disease awareness, mental health resources, youth empowerment, social justice efforts, and more.

🦃 Read the story of one of New York City’s most beloved (and quirky) residents living amongst skyscrapers: Astoria, the wild turkey.

Sometimes we just need to take a few minutes to slow down and reconnect with ourselves. Meditation is an incredible tool with countless benefits that we all have access to— it's as easy as just taking a breath.

This means you have no excuse to not try this calming, 10-minute "Affirmations for a Beautiful Day Guided Meditation." I felt amazing by the end, and hope you do too!

Most "calm" supplements either knock you out or do nothing. Nature's Craft Calm Gummies work differently and are stronger than most—magnesium citrate, L-theanine, and ashwagandha synergize naturally to ease tension without drowsiness.

Take two passion fruit gummies for fast-acting relief when anxiety strikes or you need to unwind. Day stress or night worries, they handle both.

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

We received so many responses this week, we can’t fit them all in (okayyyy, winners!) So if you don’t see your submission here, don’t worry—it’ll be featured in a future edition.

Check out the wins this week!

🔨 One anonymous subscriber from Hauppauge, NY, put her handy skills to the test…

• “I put together a chaise lounge all by myself! That’s saying something since I’m not the most handy person!”

🦷 Sie H. from Virginia is checking things off of their to-do list…

• “I finally scheduled a dentist appointment! My first one in three + years since I haven’t had insurance. Then even after getting health insurance I’ve been trying to deal with other appointments first, but I’m going soon!”

💪 Another anonymous subscriber is dedicated to getting better every day…

• “Just started my plan to start bettering myself. Added timers for all the distracting apps I need, deleted the distracting apps I don't need. Reclaiming my physical fitness through running, pushups, and pullups. Cleaning up my diet- less sugar, more vegetables. Really feeling good about this, and no matter what happens, it means I'm getting closer to the best version of myself!”

❤️ Vicki R. from Utah is paying it forward with food…

• "I have been working so hard I've been ignoring myself and other important things. This last weekend, though, I spent the day with my family doing a Dutch Oven Contest serving 200 people a 3 course meal! We did not win the competition, but we won with the amount of amazing fun and team spirit we all had, along with the feeling of a wonderful warm community! It took almost all of Saturday, and wore myself out, but loved every minute of it! The photo is only half the Team, but someone had to take the photos!"

Note: Even if you've been celebrated before, we'd love to keep receiving good news from you, so please don't hesitate to participate!

📰 Check out this heartwarming NY Times article (free link) one reader sent in about actor Ted Danson and his wife Mary Steenburgen. From subscriber Casey: “Its such a beautiful story, I thought Positive DONUT readers may enjoy it too!” 🗣️

🏃🏻‍♀️ It’s never too late—or early—to start your New Year’s resolutions. If physical fitness is on your list, I’ve been loving the SWEAT App for all things wellness. Women-run and women-centered, SWEAT offers workout programs for any kind of body and fitness level. They’re running a 50% (!) Cyber Monday deal for our subscribers with the code “Positive”. Check it out here. ✨

🗣️ Subscriber recommendation.

✨ Affiliate link. If you make a purchase, Positive DONUT earns a tiny commission at NO additional cost.

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.

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