Positive DONUT is back after a two week hiatus, and boy, am I ready to share some good news with you. 

In a time where the news and media can feel pretty heavy, it’s more important than ever to hold onto the positive.

So take this newsletter as your permission slip to sit back, take a deep breath, and let your brain slowwww down for a moment.

And when you’re done, look around you and appreciate some of the good things in your life. 🥰. Have a fantastic week! Thanks for being here.

—Kailyn

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

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

I will achieve great things through small steps

Like most ’90s kids, Matthew Shifrin loved building Legos.

There was just one problem: he couldn’t see the instructions.

Lego sets only came with picture-based guides, which didn’t exactly help a child who’s blind. So for years, Matthew relied on friends and family to describe each step, never fully able to build on his own.

That all changed when Matthew turned 13, and his babysitter showed up with a binder full of braille instructions for a Lego palace set. For the first time, he could follow along by himself.

Matthew immediately got to work building his initial solo Lego set—but he was only getting started.

Fast forward to 2023, and Matthew launched Bricks for the Blind, a website offering free, accessible Lego instructions for people who are blind or visually impaired. Users can choose from three different formats depending on what works best for them.

• To date, the nonprofit has created instructions for 540+ sets, ranging from a 100-piece car to a 4,000-piece bridge. 
• Around 3,000 builders have used them, from across the US to as far away as Australia.

Matthew also pushed for Lego itself to improve their accessibility features.

• After he reached out to the company in 2017, Lego started to release braille instructions for select sets.
• Lego also introduced braille bricks that feature studs representing letters, numbers, and symbols.

More than a toy: Bricks for the Blind is opening the door for families to build together, making sure no one gets left out of a classic childhood experience.

“There is something incredibly satisfying and relaxing about putting together these intricate, beautiful builds,” one user said. “For a lot of blind people, this was something we were never included in before.”

A book tracker that gets you to read instead of forgetting what’s next. A trip planner that maps your itinerary without ten tabs open. A mood board that becomes a live site instead of sitting unfinished.

Floot takes a simple idea and turns it into a working app or site. Describe what you want, and it builds the first version. From there, you can adjust the layout, add what you need, and shape it into an essential for your routine.

👆🌝 Meet Rise, the lesser-known fifth crew member of NASA’s Artemis II mission. The moon plushie, designed by 8-year-old Lucas Ye from California, served as the mission’s zero gravity indicator during their journey into space.

The stuffed plushie also held a sim card containing the names of 5.6+ million people who entered NASA's "Send Your Name with Artemis" program.

🐢 A quick-thinking lifeguard helped save the life of a massive Kemp’s ridley sea turtle—one of the rarest turtles in the world—who was buried in the sand with a fishing hook lodged in its throat.

🧪 A Connecticut high schooler found two FDA-approved drugs that may be effective against Alzheimer’s disease. His research earned him eighth place in the national 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search.

🥰 Megan Keaveny took to the streets of NYC with a homemade sign asking people to share their good news. What happened next is sure to make anyone smile.

If you’ve been around for a while, you know I’m a big fan of meditation. The simple act of sitting still and being present with yourself can have some incredible benefits.

🌷 As we move into longer days, warmer weather, and springtime traditions, try out this Letting Go of Winter, Welcoming Spring meditation—a spring cleaning for your body and mind. It only takes 15 minutes, and should have you feeling refreshed, calm, and reflective.

Try it out.

🏨 Save up to 50% on flight and hotel…Business and first-class flights combined with 5-star hotels, and 24/7 assistance. Book by 4/30 here.

✈️ Up to 77% off Business Class…Visit destinations in style and comfort across Europe, India, Asia. Book by 4/30 here.

🧳 Up to $400 ship credit…Set sail from Barcelona to Athens on this 7-day luxurious voyage . Book by 4/30 here.

Welcome to What’s Your Win, the section of the newsletter where we celebrate all of the positive news happening right here within our DONUT community. Big or small, there’s always something to celebrate.

Check out the wins we received this week!

👏 Dawn K from Chicago, IL, is appreciating some well-earned recognition:

• “I was honored to be nominated for Employee of the Month by my peers, even though it was the entire talented team that helped make our launch successful.”

🧶 Lisa M. is proud of her new hobby:

• “I’m successfully knitting my first lacy scarf using knitting charts! It requires so much concentration and the yarn I chose is very fiddly. My confidence is through the roof ❤️.”

💪 One anonymous subscriber from AL is the definition of a fighter:

• “#4 chemo Friday - after a full hysterectomy - 3 chemos 28 external radiation treatments / 2 internal radiation treatments / a long hard intestinal inflammation problem - I’m still above ground and fighting.“

☕️ Beth C. from TX is a secondhand queen:

• “My husband and I are trying to be more frugal this year which includes cooking at home more and buying from thrift stores. We've been wanting an espresso machine for a while now and we ended up finding one in good condition for $5 at a thrift store. Cleaned it up and did some maintenance and it works perfectly!”

👗 Spring time is here, and with it comes the yearly clean out of all the old sweaters in your closet. Looking for a new look to debut this summer? Look no further than Urban Outfitters. From everyday essentials to statement pieces, they have a little bit of everything for everyone.✨

💼🔐 Career advice from women who’ve already done it…The Assist shares leadership insights and productivity strategies straight from women executives—4x weekly. Join 310k+ professional women reading it. ☕️

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

☕️ In partnership with our friends at The Assist.

It’s time for some food-themed trivia. Can you get all three?

1. What is the world’s most expensive spice by weight?

• A) Vanilla
• B) Cardamom
• C) Saffron
• D) Clove

2. Which cheese is traditionally used in a classic Greek salad?

• A) Halloumi
• B) Feta
• C) Kasseri
• D) Graviera

3. What chemical compound is primarily responsible for the spicy heat in chili peppers?

• A) Piperine
• B) Capsaicin
• C) Curcumin
• D) Allicin

(keep scrolling for the answers)

Whether you had an energizing conversation with a friend, beat a sickness, met a milestone at work, or booked a trip you were always dreaming about, we want to hear about it.

There is always something to be grateful for, and no win is too small. And who knows? Sharing a bit of positivity from your own life could inspire someone else to recognize the good in theirs🥰. That's what Positive DONUT is all about.

So what are you waiting for? Submit your wins here for a chance to be featured in next week's newsletter. We want to celebrate you!

1. C) Saffron
2. B) Feta
3. B) Capsaicin

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