Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another issue of Positive DONUT, the newsletter dedicated 100% to sharing the good.

In case you haven’t heard it in a while: you are loved, you are supported, and you deserve all the happiness in the world! Thanks for being here.

Have a fantastic week! 😍

–Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s newsletter should be a ~3.34 minute read (889 words).

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

I am proud of my progress, no matter how small.

When the phone rings inside a cozy California office, teenager Sanaya pauses, takes a deep breath, and answers with three simple words: “Teen Line, hello.”

She never knows who will be on the other end: a teen stressed about finals, someone navigating heartbreak, or carrying something even heavier. What she does know is that for the next few minutes, she gets to be a safe place to land.

Sanaya is one of dozens of trained teen volunteers at Teen Line, a mental health nonprofit that connects teenagers with other teenagers to offer a judgment-free, anonymous space to talk about whatever's weighing on them.

• From 6-10 pm PST every day, the phones and computers light up with messages from across the country, and sometimes the world.
• The topics range from school stress and friendship drama to eating disorders and self-harm.

Before they ever pick up a call, volunteers complete 100+ hours of training under the guidance of Senior Director Cheryl Karp Eskin, a former Teen Line volunteer herself.

The need is real. About 40% of US high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and suicide remains the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 24, according to CDC data.

As federal funding for youth mental health programs declines, organizations like Teen Line are working to remain a steady voice on the other end of the line.

And they're not alone: Out in Arizona, Teen Life Line provides free teen-to-teen support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

• 87% of callers say their problems feel more manageable after speaking with a teen counselor, according to the org.
• 93% report feeling more hopeful about the future when they hang up.

“I think the biggest thing I say to almost every caller is that it’s okay not to be okay,” Sanaya said. “There’s such a culture, especially among teenagers, to just say, ‘I’m fine.’ But when you tell someone it’s really okay to talk about what’s going on, they start to open up. Then we can have a much deeper conversation.”

And sometimes, that deeper conversation is the first step toward something powerful: relief, connection, and the reminder that no one has to face their hardest moments alone.

Homework? No thanks. HelloTalk makes learning fun, social, and totally natural.

• Swipe real convos to discover trends, slang, and cultural tidbits
• Send voice clips & videos to practice speaking like a local
• Make new friends worldwide while improving with the help of built-in tools

Join 60M+ people already chatting their way to fluency.

🐘 The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute welcomed an Asian elephant calf earlier this month—and she’s already the most popular resident in D.C.

• The yet-to-be-named female (her name will be decided via public poll) is the first elephant born at the zoo in nearly 25 years.

Asian elephants are endangered, so each birth represents a rare win for global conservation efforts.

🥇 Six American athletes are pulling double-duty at this year’s Winter Olympics in Milan, juggling their duties as an Olympian with the demands of motherhood.

🧪 Biomechanical engineer Keti Weimer—who lost her mom to breast cancer years ago at 15—has created 3D-printed breast implants for women undergoing cancer treatment, made from advanced biomaterials the body won't reject.

Today is National Random Acts of Kindness Day! And it perfectly coincides with Positive DONUT this year. 😍

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and doing something KIND today. Need an idea? Try out something from the list below.

Pay it forward:

1. Give a genuine compliment to three people.
2. Pay for a stranger's coffee or leave a kind note for a coworker.
3. Pick up litter at your local park
4. Share positive messages or news (or the Positive DONUT) on social media
5. Leave a small bouquet of flowers on a stranger’s windshield
6. Leave a little extra tip for a server or a 5-star online review
7. Ask someone: “What good is going on in your life?” and listen without needing to rush or compare
8. Check in on your friends and tell them what you appreciate about them

Eager for more? Check out this list of 102 random acts of kindness

Many veterans try therapy, and don’t stay. But they show up for training.

Because sweating side-by-side is easier than talking face-to-face. Because shared struggle builds trust. Because progress you can feel beats words you can’t find.

WarriorWOD pairs veterans with mentors and a structured fitness + nutrition plan that helps them stabilize, reconnect, and breathe again.

Over 100 are waiting to start.

Welcome to What’s Your Win, the section of the newsletter where we celebrate all of the good news happening right here in the DONUT community. Whether it’s something as big as an engagement or promotion, or as simple as a kind stranger holding the door, there’s always something to celebrate.

Check out the wins this week!

🏥 Julia T. from Guilford, CT, is grateful for health strides…

• “I’ve been dealing with some medical complications since December, and I had two successful procedures this week that brought us a little closer to answers. I’m feeling so much better than I was two months ago and am thankful for my doctors and surgical teams for taking care of me!”

❤️ Rosy G. from Atlanta, GA, is a proud sister…

• “I’m very proud of my sister, Angelica. She was hesitant to apply for a job opportunity that popped up but she went for it. She ultimately didn’t get it but I’m proud of her for trying.”

✍️ One anonymous reader is finding their creative outlet…

• “I started a Substack for myself. I've been itching to do something creative and I found a way to be accountable by posting every Tuesday. Its new to me and scary because it feels vulnerable but I'm trying it out.”

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

📙🐙 Book lovers unite…I’m in the middle of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, and its quickly becoming one of my favorite fiction novels. The story, told from multiple perspectives—including an octopus named Marcellus—explores themes of grief, loneliness, family, and finding connection in unexpected places. Positive DONUT book club, anyone?

🍩🤔 Before we move onto our game…Did you know The DONUT has our very own games newsletter hitting inboxes every weekday? From crossword puzzles to exclusive DONUT-only games, it’s your perfect quick hit of fun at the end of the work day. Check out DONUT Games here.

1. The Sahara is the world’s biggest desert.
2. Sound travels faster in the air than in water.
3. A typical adult human has 32 teeth.

(Keep scrolling for the answers)

There's always something to celebrate. Whether it be a new job, a heartwarming conversation with a loved one, crossing an item off your bucket list, or simply enjoying your day a little more than usual, we want to hear about it.

Sharing is caring: Submit your day-to-day wins with us here to be featured in a future newsletter. Who knows? Sharing the positivity in your life might inspire someone to recognize the good in theirs. 🥰

Share your wins here.

1. False; Antarctica is considered the largest desert in the world due to its extremely low levels of precipitation (less than 10 inches/year).
2. False; Sound travels much faster in water.
3. True; This figure includes wisdom teeth

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