How it feels knowing we’ve officially entered spring:

If the longer days and sunnier mornings haven’t already brightened your mood, we're back in your inbox to do just that. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

Have a favorite story this week, or something exciting happening in your own life you want to share? Simply reply to this email and let me know, or fill out our “What’s Your Win?” submission form. I love hearing from you! 🥰

—Kailyn

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My potential is limitless.

Dozens of brides. Zero weddings. One very San Francisco Saturday.

A sea of white gowns took over Washington Square Park in SF earlier this month, as hundreds of people showed up dressed for the altar—sans the whole “marriage” commitment.

The occasion? The 26th annual Brides of March event, a combined bar crawl and street performance in celebration of secondhand fashion.

The “brides” kicked things off near the Ben Franklin statue and circled the park in full wedding attire. Think veils, bouquets, and ring pops swapped in for diamonds.

• From there, the group posed for photos outside Saints Peter and Paul Church before parading up Columbus Avenue and landing at Specs’ Twelve Adler Museum Cafe for what can only be described as a DIY mass reception.

The tradition dates back to 1999, and has since evolved into a local staple. The premise is simple: grab a thrifted or repurposed wedding dress and join the party. The message behind it is slightly less simple.

• “It’s about keeping San Francisco weird,” organizer Jenneviere Villegas said. She also pointed out the irony of wedding dresses that cost thousands only to be worn once and then stored away. 
• Brides of March flips that script, giving those dresses a second life, this time with less pressure and more drinks.

For some, it’s become an annual tradition. One participant said she has 15 wedding dresses packed away at home, ready for future marches.

As one local put it while watching the spectacle unfold: nothing surprises them in San Francisco anymore.

Some footwear starts with foam and finishes on an assembly line. Kyrgies takes a different path. Each pair is shaped by hand from natural wool, using a felting process refined over generations. The result is a dense, breathable upper that regulates temperature, paired with durable soles built for everyday wear at home.

No synthetics, no shortcuts, felted by hand in Kyrgyzstan with wool, water, and pressure. Just materials that perform the way they should, from the first wear to years down the line.

Residents at English retirement home Maplewood Court recently traded slippers for statement pieces, rocking bold wigs, oversized pearls, and colorful fits for a surprise photoshoot.

• The event was pulled together by staffers who sourced wigs, raided closets for accessories, and turned the afternoon into a full-on production. 
• Makeup? Done. Photos? Snapped. Confidence? Through the roof.

It doesn’t stop there. The pics are getting printed, framed, and turned into a mini gallery inside the home, so residents can relive their supermodel era anytime they want.

🐒 Baby monkey Punch is officially expanding his social circle. The internet-famous macaque, who once clung to a stuffed orangutan for comfort after being abandoned, is now slowly bonding with real monkeys at a zoo in Japan. Character development: we love to see it.

🎭 Inmates are taking the stage in a UK prison theater program, using performance to challenge stereotypes, build confidence, and reshape how both they and the public see life behind bars.

📦 A recent Stanford University study helped adults with hoarding disorders part with some of their cluttered things in a healthy manner, by first doing it in a VR version of their home.

Grab your journal or open the Notes app on your phone. Then pick one or two of the prompts below and get writing:

1. How has your life changed in the last year? How would you like it to change in another year?
2. Write a letter to a stranger describing who you are. What are your likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses?
3. What do you feel especially grateful for recently? Why these things?
4. What’s your favorite part of your day?
5. What do you value most in your relationships with romantic partners, friends, and/or family?

P.S. If you wanna swap notes or share a story, just hit reply.

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Welcome to “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 wins this week!

🧘 Felix P from Illinois is feeling flexible:

• “I’ve always wanted to be flexible enough to lock my hands behind my back (called the back scratch test) because I’ve had plenty of itches I couldn’t reach back there and it would keep me safe from injury being that flexible! I’ve been working on it since the new year, and I’ve finally been able to touch my two fingers together which was such an exciting achievement for me!”

💸 One subscriber from Nigeria is thankful for financial freedom:

• “I'm grateful that I can pay my children's school fees and their bills unlike the past years where I could not pay their bills”

💐 One reader from Arizona is a living example of good karma:

• “I wrote a couple weeks ago about leaving flowers in my neighbors mailboxes … today I had some in mine!”

We received so many responses last week that we couldn’t fit them all! If you sent in a win and don’t see it here, don't fret—you’ll be featured in a future newsletter.

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🐑 Imagine slipping on the comfiest handmade slippers, all while knowing you’re helping support hard-working women in Kyrgyzstan. Sustainably made and offered in multiple styles to find your perfect fit, check out Kyrgies here. ✨

☕️ From our partners at Mindstream

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1. Which US state has the most active volcanoes?

• A) California
• B) Alaska
• C) Hawaii
• D) Washington

2. Which US state grows the most coffee?

• A) Florida
• B) Texas
• C) California
• D) Hawaii

3. Which state is home to the geographic center of the contiguous US?

• A) Nebraska
• B) South Dakota
• C) Kansas
• D) Oklahoma

(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. 🥰

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. B; Alaska
2. D; Hawaii
3. C; Kansas

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