Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Positive DONUT. I’m so happy you're here. And in case no one has told you lately:

I hope you had a fantastic week and a great start to your February. Today's edition is full of everything from musical healthcare, to potato surpluses, to Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Let me know what you think of the newsletter—I always love to hear from you! Have a great week.🥰

–Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s newsletter should be a ~2.52 minute read (671 words).

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

I am proud of myself and who I’m becoming.

At the O+ Medical Clinic in New York, you don’t have to worry about remembering your insurance card. But you might need to bring your guitar.

The clinic is a year-round, no-cost, exchange-based medical space for artists and musicians, founded by a group of local creatives and doctors. Instead of paying with cash or insurance, patients pay with what they do best: art.

How it works:

• Volunteer healthcare providers offer services including health checkups, dentistry, massages, and group therapy—completely free of charge.
• In return, artists contribute to the community by offering free tickets to live performances, creating public artwork, teaching music or art classes, or sharing other skills.

The idea is simple: both healthcare and creative labor have value, and neither should be treated as disposable.

While the physical clinic opened in 2023, O+ has been exchanging art for healthcare since 2010. So far, the organization has provided 6,135 medical treatments and 1,554 dental treatments to artists.

In addition to letting artists access care without going broke, the O+ Exchange Clinic has also become a creative hub hosting exhibitions, workshops, and live music events.

Our good pals at OPC have an amazing offer just for DONUT readers: 2 minutes of your time for a free 40-day trial (a $60+ value).

• Fill out a quick survey about yourself, your goals, follow the steps, and gain 100%-free access to OPC.
• Get on-demand Pilates classes from world-renowned instructor Lesley Logan and her expert team
• Stay motivated with a vibrant community that empowers you to build strength and fitness on your terms

Germany is in the midst of a Kartoffel-Flut, AKA a “potato flood,” with the country seeing the highest yield of spuds in 25 years.

• The surplus inspired one farmer to organize a free potato dump in Berlin, where anyone can come get a potato—or twenty—free of charge.
• Soup kitchens, homeless shelters, schools and churches have all taken their fill, with the Berlin Zoo even scooping up some spuds for its animals

Maybe we should start calling them german fries instead. 🍟

🐾 Did anyone else catch the Puppy Bowl?! For the first time in its 22-year history, the Animal Planet special featured adorable senior dogs.

🏆 As a '90s kid, I grew up with Bill Nye the Science Guy. The scientist will soon be honored with a lifetime achievement Emmy Award for his impact as a science educator.

🍼 There’s one thing uniting a majority of Gen Z men: becoming dads someday.

You’re not alone. It’s normal to feel overstimulated after a busy day at work or school, and constant socialization can have our brains processing a ton of information at once.

I love this article about how to recharge your social battery when feeling a bit depleted. If you need a bit of a recharge, try out one (or all) of the strategies below:

1. Read or watch something fictional.
2. Get outside and move around.
3. Reframe exhaustion as a sign that you had fun.
4. Unwind with friends or family in a low-key way.
5. Relax in a way that feels natural to you.

Dig deeper.

You don’t need hours a day to develop practical language skills, just a system designed for real life. Rosetta Stone offers lessons as short as 5 minutes so you can make progress even on busy days.  

As your learning progresses, Stories and Phrasebook reinforce vocabulary in context across 25 languages. When you’re ready to start speaking, Rosetta Stone’s proprietary TruAccent® technology provides pronunciation feedback so you’ll start sounding like a local in no time.

Welcome to What’s Your Win, the section of the newsletter where we celebrate all of the good things happening right here in our Positive DONUT community. Big or small, there’s always something to celebrate. Check out this week’s submission below:

❤️ Tracy H. from Jersey City, NJ, is in awe of her husband…

• “In 2023, my 47-year-old husband received a prostate cancer diagnosis. It was a rollercoaster year. Since his prostatectomy, his PSA tests remain undetectable, which is great news! My husband owns 100% of this win! He has been amazing. Now, together we want to share our experiences with others. More importantly, we want to raise awareness of prostate cancer, provide a safe place for open, face-to-face discussions, and help people feel better physically and mentally. We created Prostate Cancer Straight Talk events, and it feels like the biggest win of all.”

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

🫧 If you haven’t tried Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products, you’re missing out. I have been a huge fan of their soaps and sprays for years, and as a new mom, it’s even more important to me than ever to use natural products free of any harsh chemicals in my home. They have some great holiday scents for the season.✨

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

1. What year was the first iPhone released?
2. What name is singer-actor Stefani Germanotta better known by?
3. “Holiday” was the first Billboard Hot 100 single for what singer?

(Keep scrolling for the answers)

I get it: life can get busy and overwhelming. It's hard to see the bright side sometimes.

• But What's Your Win isn't about toxic positivity—it's about perspective and expectations (which some, like our founder, say is the secret to happiness). 
• There truly is always something to be grateful for, even if it's as simple as your favorite cozy blanket or a fantastic latte you had earlier today. 

What's Your Win is about taking a moment to remember the good things in life. Big or small, it's all worth celebrating. And who knows? Sharing your win might inspire someone else to recognize the good in theirs.🥰

Share your everyday wins and gratitude here for a chance to be featured in next week's newsletter and have a positive impact on a stranger's life.

Submit a win—or a friend/partner/family member's win—here.

1. 2007
2. Lady Gaga
3. Madonna

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