Happy Tuesday, and welcome back to another edition of Positive DONUT. I know the news can feel pretty heavy a lot of the time, so this newsletter is here to bring a bit of light back into your day.

Let me know what sections and stories are your favorites, I always love hearing from you. Thanks for being a reader! 🥰

–Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s newsletter should be a ~3.09 minute read (822 words).

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There is always room for me at the table. I deserve to take up space.

Some dads are spending happy hour dealing with braids along with their beers.

Pints & Ponytails is one of many hairstyling classes offered for dads who need some tips. 

On a recent Thursday evening in south London, almost 30 fathers gathered at a rooftop bar with pints in one hand and hair ties in the other to practice ponytails, braids, and buns on mannequin heads.

For many, its about much more than mastering a fishtail braid: it all comes down to bonding with their daughters.

• "If you're going to get your daughter ready, then you've got to be able to do everything," said one attendee, Dharmesh Tailor, who has an 18-month-old daughter. 
• He sees hairstyling time as a valuable bonding experience with his girl.

Pints & Ponytails was created by two dads who wanted to help fathers feel more confident with a task that's traditionally fallen to moms. The classes have since attracted millions of views online, inspired similar events elsewhere, and created a space where dads swap hairstyling tips while also talking about parenting, relationships, and life.

Being a hands-on dad is in. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, millennial fathers now spend ~2.5 more hours/week on childcare than dads did a decade ago, as more families work toward sharing parental responsibilities.

The classes tackle mistakes head-on, encouraging dads to get out of their comfort zones and try something new. Whether it's finally nailing a plait or learning the trick to keeping a hair tie from slipping, everything is celebrated.

For these dads, some of the sweetest acts of parenting—beyond the grand gestures—include learning how to braid two tiny pigtails before they’re off to school.

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🐾 Toby Henderson, a 10-month old kitten, just claimed his first Guinness World Record with a tie for most toes on a cat, featuring 28 distinct toe-beans.

• “When I first saw his toes, I really couldn't believe what I was seeing!” said his owner.
• “Having another polydactyl cat, I was expecting the extra ‘thumbs,’ but nothing could've prepared me to see Toby's paws.”

Those extra toes don’t cause Toby any discomfort. If anything, it gives the kitty that little bit more to love.

⚾️ Baseball was Zach Ship's first love. So when brain inflammation stole most of his vision, he feared his days on the diamond were over. Then he discovered Baseball for the Blind and found his way back to the game he thought he'd lost forever.

⛵️ After 33 years of planning and saving, Charly Oliver and Michelle Denton sold almost everything they owned and bought a sailboat named “Rascal.” Now, the couple spends their days exploring the world from the water and crossing country after country off of their bucket list.

❤️ A Seattle man who's been homeless for seven years found a stolen bag containing a beloved family dog’s ashes and memorial items. After tracking down the owners and returning the bag without asking for anything in return, a wave of community support flooded in and quickly raised thousands of dollars to help him get back on his feet.

Journaling has been proven time and time again to have some pretty incredible effects on our minds and bodies. So give it a shot! Don't filter yourself, and let the thoughts just flow. You may be shocked at how much it improves your mood.

1. When do you feel most like yourself?
2. What is something you wish more people knew about you?
3. Is there someone you're currently seeking approval from? What would having their approval change?
4. What's a lesson you've had to learn lately?
5. Describe your perfect day. How can you incorporate some of those things into your day-to-day life?

Your skin pays the price for all that extra time outdoors. Curativa Bay's Wellness Bundle helps soothe acne, rosacea, eczema, and irritation with hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the same molecule your immune system naturally produces to fight bacteria and support healing.

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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:

🖌️ Mel from Missouri is enjoying her home makeover:

• “During the pandemic, we painted many rooms this blue-gray shade. Which was more blue than we wanted. Fast forward six years we are finally repainting! This was a wish for a couple of years, until we could finally afford to pay for a professional.”

❤️ And a win for myself this week:

• I got married last weekend!! My husband and I eloped with just a few of our close friends and family there, and it was the most special, simple, beautiful day. Cheers to entering this new chapter of life together. 🥂"

📔 Love the journaling exercise? Check out The 5 Minute Journal for a simple, no-fuss way to add some daily reflection. This simple routine could change your life, shifting your mindset from attitude to deep gratitude. ✨

🐛📖 For all the bookworms: I’m currently in the middle of The House in the Cerulean Sea and I am obSESSED. Now I haven’t finished it yet, so no one respond with any spoilers—but if you haven’t read it, give it a try! This light-hearted fantasy has me laughing out loud and feeling all the feels. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

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1. What are the colors of the Olympic Rings?
2. Which nervous system controls your "rest and digest" functions?
3. Which living animal has the world's largest eyes?

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 too small. And who knows? Sharing a bit of positivity from your own life could inspire someone else to recognize the good in theirs🥰.

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

Share your accomplishments, big and small.

1. Blue, yellow, black, green, and red
2. The parasympathetic nervous system
3. The giant/colossal squid

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

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease