That feeling when you realize it’s only Tuesday… which means Positive DONUT is arriving right on schedule:

My June has been just about as busy as it can be, with wedding weekend also fast approaching. But sitting down to write this newsletter every week always feels like a breath of fresh air. I hope reading it does, too.

Let me know which stories and sections are your favorites. Have a wonderful week! 🥰

-Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s newsletter should be a ~3.20 minute read (851 words).

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I embrace the questions in my heart and welcome the answers in their own time.

At almost 93 years old, Italian sprinter Emma Maria Mazzenga is the fastest female nonagenarian on the planet. She proudly holds multiple world records, proving that getting older doesn't necessarily mean slowing down.

Scientists recently decided to study what makes Emma so extraordinary. After all, most people aren't setting sprinting records into their 90s. What they discovered was remarkable: in several key ways, Emma's body functions more like that of someone decades younger.

• Researchers found her ability to process oxygen rivals active women nearly half her age. 
• Even more impressive, her mitochondria perform more like those found in healthy people in their 20s.
• Emma's muscles also maintain unusually strong connections to the nerves that tell them when to move, a system that usually deteriorates with age.

Emma doesn’t spend hours in the gym. The 92-year-old typically trains just three times a week, focusing on short, intense sprint workouts that rarely last more than an hour. She also walks regularly and occasionally does some light strength training.

She also wasn't a lifelong fitness fanatic. Emma sprinted when she was younger, then stepped away from the sport for decades while raising a family and building a career, before returning to running in her mid-40s. Fifty years later, she's still breaking records.

The scientists studying Emma say there are still plenty of mysteries to solve. Some parts of Emma's body show normal signs of aging, while others seem almost frozen in time. But one lesson is already clear: movement matters.

Trust starts with presence. Mindful builds your presence through expert-led meditations and mindfulness practices designed for real life. 12-minute sessions guide your attention and breathing with practical tools that help you stay grounded.

Over time, you become less reactive, more patient, and focused on what matters in front of you. Conversations feel more connected and challenges feel manageable.

🧓🎪 Generation Circus hosted a “rebellion against ageism” this weekend as part of their Over 50 Showcase, where performers between the ages of 50–96 showed off their trapeze, hula hoop, juggling, clowning and dance skills.

🐢 A sea turtle nicknamed "Dark-Blue Yellow" is defying the odds after surviving one of the most severe injuries Florida Aquarium biologists have ever treated: a wound that cut completely through the bottom of his shell. After weeks of round-the-clock care—and plenty of feisty turtle attitude—he's expected to make a full recovery and return to the ocean later this summer.

🧚 The Bar Fairies are spreading a little pixie dust across Montana, one parked car at a time. Founded by a mother in honor of her son, who was killed by a drunk driver, the organization leaves gift cards and small gifts on cars left at bars overnight as a thank-you for choosing not to get behind the wheel after drinking.

🐦‍⬛ When Leah Wilson saved an injured baby crow from the street, she didn’t realize she would be adopted by the whole flock—until the thank-you gifts came pouring in.

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 depleted. If you need a bit of a pick-me-up, 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.

Your favorite things in life don't sit on a shelf, they become part of your routine. Laundry Sauce infuses fragrances by the world's top perfumers into every piece of your laundry, so the comforts you reach for every day feel a little more indulgent.

Signature scents like the warm, rugged Australian Sandalwood and the bright, energizing Italian Bergamot pair with Scent Boosters, Fabric Softeners, Dryer Sheets, and Fabric Refresher Spray to create a bold, long-lasting fragrance experience, all built on the powerful cleaning performance of ultra-concentrated pods.

Welcome to What’s Your Win?, the section of the newsletter where we celebrate all of the good news happening right here in our community.

Big or small, there’s something to celebrate every day. Check out some wins we received in the last few weeks!

❤️ Maggie M from Watsonville, CA, is proud of her little brainiac:

• “A couple months ago I shared that my daughter had finally turned a corner in her English learning journey in kindergarten. Well, Thursday she graduates, and although its a small moment in the grand scheme of her education, to me it means the world. She feels so accomplished and excited to move on to 1st grade. I am beyond proud of her, but also of myself and her Dad for being able to keep her feeling brave and smart even when she struggled. Congratulations to all of the graduates out there!”

🧠 Jasmine C from Boston, MA, is one smart donut cookie:

• “My long form answer was chosen for one of the donut survey's this week!! I was so excited to see what I wrote amongst the really insightful responses from other readers!”

🎨 Karen T from Roseville, MN, found her way back to the canvas:

• “When I retired 9 years ago, one of my dreams was to return to painting on canvas at an easel. My higher power had other plans for me. They were grueling and heart-wrenching and even after they ended, for the next year I couldn't find any peace. So I decided to make a new life in MN and be near my family. I've been here a year setting up a new household just for me. Today, instead of taking on more new home tasks, I finally spent 2 hours painting in my studio!! I was totally and joyfully immersed and feel like life is really good after all!! My dog Sparky has been with me on this adventure.”

📆 I just spent 10 days in Disneyworld with my whole family, and my sister-in-law could not stop raving about her Skylight calendar. The smart calendar does a little bit of everything. From color-coded scheduling, to meal planning, to easy-to-navigate to-do lists, Skylight makes it easy for the whole family to stay in the loop and organized. See for yourself. ✨

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

1. What was Elvis' first #1 single on the Billboard pop charts?
2. Which Celine Dion tune won Best Original Song at the 1998 Oscars?
3. What rock guitarist played on the Michael Jackson song "Beat It"?

🥹 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. "Heartbreak Hotel"; It topped the Billboard Top 100 chart in 1956 and held the #1 spot for seven weeks, launching Elvis to national superstardom.
2. "My Heart Will Go On"; The track served as the iconic theme to the 1997 film Titanic, and was composed by James Horner with lyrics by Will Jennings.
3. Eddie Van Halen; The guitarist apparently recorded it for free as a favor to producer Quincy Jones.

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