It's Tuesday. And you know what that means...

Time for another edition of the most uplifting newsletter in the world! (*In my own, totally unbiased opinion)

Any other US Northeast residents also braving the snow-mageddon? I’m currently writing this newsletter from my couch, bundled up with almost two feet of snow outside—and praying I don’t lose power. 

For those of in similar situations, stay safe and warm. For everyone else, enjoy the sunshine while you have it.☀️

Thanks for being here. Have a fantastic week!

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s newsletter should be a ~2.76 minute read (735 words).

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I can achieve great things through small steps.

What if dementia care looked less like a hospital wing and more like a neighborhood?

Officials in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, recently approved plans for a $40 million project to develop America’s first “dementia village.”

Modeled after a successful concept in the Netherlands, the project aims to replace one large, institutional-style facility for memory care with something that feels far more familiar.

The goal? Restore as much autonomy and spontaneity as possible for residents living with dementia.

• Instead of long hallways and locked doors, the village will contain eight homes with up to 65 residents, grouped by shared interests.
• The campus will also include a restaurant, spa, and grocery store, all designed to feel like everyday life, with caregivers on call 24/7.

Another 40-50 people could attend the campus through a day program. Pricing is expected to be comparable to traditional memory-care facilities, with room and board paid out of pocket and medical expenses billed to insurance.

The heart behind the build: The project comes as dementia diagnoses are projected to rise sharply across the US in the coming decades. Today, nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease alone, a number expected to roughly double by 2050.

For local Alder Logan Reigstad, the issue is personal. 

• He watched his great-grandmother live with dementia, describing the experience as “heart wrenching” but punctuated by brief “glimmers” when a familiar song or memory brought her back.
• Supporters hope the village model can create more of those glimmering moments—not as rare flashes, but woven into day-to-day life.

Looking ahead...If construction begins as planned this spring, the community could open as early as 2027.

Even on good days, our thoughts race, and not in a good way. We're told to just be present, but that’s easier said than done.

Mindful helps you actually do it. Try a guided practice now and in just minutes, and your breathing slows. Your thoughts settle. You respond instead of spiral. You become grounded, right here and right now.

It’s designed for people who've tried mindfulness but couldn't make it stick, and by experts who get it.

Meet this week’s biggest internet celebrity: Punch the monkey and his emotional support stuffed animal “mom.”

• After videos of the baby monkey getting shunned from his tribe went viral online, messages of support for Punch flooded in from around the world.

The Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan later reassured the public that Punch is making strides in bonding with the other monkeys.

🥇 Team USA won its most gold medals in a single Winter Olympics this year, earning a total of 12. Highlights include the first men’s hockey gold in 46 years, and first women’s singles figure skating gold since 2002.

🎓 Yale University is eliminating tuition and other costs for all new undergraduates from families earning less than $100,000 a year, joining similar efforts from Ivy League schools and other top universities.

👰‍♀️ The power of sisterhood…Read the story of one wedding dress shared between 13 brides.

Meditation is a simple and effective way to take care of yourself. The act of mindfully sitting with ourselves and our breathing can have some amazing effects.

🥰 So, what are you waiting for?...Try out this quick self-love meditation for an instant boost of acceptance. There's a solid chance you'll feel amazing after.

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It's time for What's Your Win, the section of the newsletter where we celebrate all of the positive news happening right here in our DONUT community.

Big or small, there's always something to celebrate. Check out the submissions we received this week!

🙏 Angela Mason is thankful for Positive DONUT

• “I’m thankful for your newsletter, as it makes me feel good. I hope you're feeling well and everything is ok in your world!”

❤️ One anonymous subscriber from Arizona is on the good side of karma…

• “I secretly, or so I thought, leave surprises in my neighbors mailboxes…flowers, cards, etc. My neighbor surprised me with a coffee mug warmer (…best thing ever!). She said it was her way of saying thanks for spreading love.”

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

📰 Burned out? Meet PowerPair. A free weekly newsletter read by dual income parents who want less chaos and more connection with proven systems, marriage and parenting tactics, and mental health resets. Subscribe now.☕️ 

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☕ In partnership with our friends at PowerPair

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

1. Which country has the longest coastline in the world?
2. What was Taylor Swift's first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100?
3. Who was the first president to visit all 50 states while in office?

(Keep scrolling for the answers)

🥹 Can I be real with you? "What's Your Win" is my favorite part of the newsletter. When I started brainstorming Positive DONUT four 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?
• Maybe a specific prompt would be more helpful to get those creative juices flowing?

We'd hate to scrap this section—but 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 work promotion or engagement. Like high-stakes poker, the win limits don't exist! 

Submit your win(s) here.  

1. Canada
2. "Tim McGraw"
3. Richard Nixon

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