Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Positive DONUT. My goal by the end of the newsletter? To have you feeling a little bit like these two:

So what are you waiting for? Sit back, relax, and enjoy a refreshing mental health break.

Have a fantastic week! 🥰

–Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s newsletter should be a ~2.76 minute read (734 words).

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What’s meant to be will always find a way.

When Dave Nguyen stepped out of his company Christmas party in downtown Ottawa, he was searching for one thing: an Uber home. What he got instead was a long walk through the snow—and, eventually, a new friend.

• It was late, cold, and peak holiday chaos. After striking out on rides, Dave started walking towardhis destination, half resigned to the trek. 
• Then his phone buzzed: "Your driver is on the way."

That driver was Chance Niyomugabo.

Somewhere between traffic lights and small talk, Dave learned something that stopped him cold. Despite living in Canada for eight years after moving from Rwanda, Chance had never been tobogganing. Not once. No sleds, no hills, no winter wipeouts.

For Dave, that felt like a problem worth fixing.

With two weeks off from teaching martial arts and the holiday spirit doing its thing, Dave sent a follow-up text: "Want to go tobogganing?" A few messages later, they settled on Boxing Day at a nearby hill.

Dave showed up prepared: two borrowed sleds, brand-new snow pants for Chance, and a crash course in Canadian winter rules (gloves and a hat: non-negotiable).

• For Chance, who spends most of the year working—cutting trees in the summer and driving for Uber full time through the winter—it was a rare day of unstructured fun.

They capped the day off with coffee and pastries, even buying a hot chocolate for a kid in line ahead of them.

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When Hari Budha Magar lost both of his legs to an IED in Afghanistan while serving with the British Army, he worried he may never walk again, let alone climb mountains.

⛰️ Fast forward to today, and Hari is now the first double above-knee amputee to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents.

• His journey started in 2018, when Hari first applied to climb the world’s highest mountain. He later summited Mt. Everest in 2022.

The climber hopes his journey inspires other people with disabilities to get out there and do what they love. 

“My message to the world is to everyone, whether living with a disability or able-bodied. Anything is possible with enough determination,” he shared. “Yes, you might need to adapt your approach, get help, or think differently, but you can do it!”

🪩 Hey moms, when was the last time you really let loose and had fun? If that question has you thinking uhhh…, meet Mom’s Feelin’ Themselves, an organization helping mothers reconnect with themselves through what might be the most underrated form of self-care: a full-on dance party.

🧠In the world of mental health…A new noninvasive brain treatment for depression is showing promising early results, giving some patients relief without surgery or medication changes.

🤗 Mark your calendars: it’s Hunt for Happiness Week. Now in its 25th year, the annual event hosted by the Society of Happy People encourages people to find joy in the small, everyday stuff. You can check out how to get involved (and maybe boost your mood a notch) here.

...it’s what's inside that makes it all the rage. The “analog bag” is a new mindfulness trend encouraging people to stop doomscrolling and start creating.

🎨 The idea is simple. Fill your purse or backpack with a few non-technology-related activities to pull out whenever you’re tempted to reach for your phone to kill time. 

• Whether it’s a crochet needle and some yarn, a good novel, or a small coloring book with some pencils, the bag should contain the essentials needed to remain offline for as long as possible, reducing your screen time and “doomscrolling” little by little.

👛 The trend is (ironically) all the rage on social media. And I’m challenging you to make your own this week! Need some help getting started? Here are some ideas to include in your own analog bag this season:

1. Small knitting needles and a ball of yarn
2. A journal and pen
3. Watercolor pens and a pad of paper
4. A crossword book
5. A polaroid camera
6. Magazines or newspapers
7. Junk journaling supplies
8. Puzzle books (think sudoku, word searches, etc)
9. Postcards and/or stationary
10. Color by numbers

I personally can’t wait to put mine together. Remember, this is about bringing more joy and comfy hobbies into your life, and it’s all about what works best for you.

Sunshine isn’t always guaranteed, but Vitamin D3 can be.

Vitamin D3 helps your bones stay strong and supports mood regulation: two benefits most people don’t realize are connected.

Vitamin World’s Vitamin D3 delivers 125mcg (5,000 IU) of the sunshine vitamin to support calcium absorption and maintain strong, healthy bones, especially as you spend more time indoors. With added immune function and mood support, it’s a quiet multitasker in your daily routine.

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.

Check out the win we received this week!

🎙️ Steve G from San Diego, CA is celebrating podcast milestones…

• “My podcast, "Tales For Life," just started its third season this year! In each episode, we explore a folk or fairy tale from a different culture and region, and discover the life lessons, values, and morals that they offer. Whether it is about achieving success, being your best self, or other themes that help us on our way, these stories inspire you to live your best life and face any challenge. The podcast is brief (about 10 minutes per episode), conversational, and fun!”

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

🤖 One newsletter, AI focused, human written. Check out Mindstream for all things AI-news here.💡

🐦👀 Introducing Birdfy, an AI powered bird feeder with an HD camera that syncs right to your phone – get ready to step into your birdwatcher phase.✨

💡In partnership with our friends at Mindstream

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

It’s time for some language trivia:

1. What US city’s name roughly translates to “the meadows” in Spanish?
2. Can you name four words in the English language that end in “dous”?

(Keep scrolling for the answers)

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. Las Vegas, Nevada
2. Horrendous, stupendous, tremendous, hazardous (also other rare/obsolete options like "jeopardus")

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