Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Positive DONUT, the newsletter that’s sole purpose is to brighten your day.

However this email finds you, my goal is to have you feeling just a little bit lighter by the end. And with today’s stories, I’m almost positive that you will!

Thanks for being here. Have a fantastic week! 🥰

-Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s newsletter should be a ~3.06 minute read (814 words).

Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe for free.

I practice gratitude for all that I have, and all that is yet to come.

Sara Gudiel, a recent occupational therapy graduate from Touro University Nevada, recently created a six-week Empower program in class to help teens and adults with Down syndrome build practical life skills as they transition into adulthood.

• She held the program temporarily at Gigi’s Playhouse Las Vegas, a nonprofit Down syndrome achievement center.
• Her concept proved so successful that it's now being rolled out across the nonprofit's entire network, covering 62 centers across two countries.

A self-reliant structure: The curriculum focuses on everyday independence for individuals with Down syndrome through skills like self-care, nutrition, leisure, and self-advocacy.

It fills an important gap for many families whose children turn 18 and age out of the school system, helping with new challenges like guardianship and medical decision-making.

The impact is already showing up. Sara recalled one parent telling her that her daughter, who rarely communicated when something was wrong, came to her after getting hurt and was able to explain what happened. 

For participant Otischa Smiley, 29, the program has brought new confidence. Between cooking, dancing, conversations, and learning about healthy eating, she summed up the experience simply: "I feel like a new me, a new diva."

Sara says the goal has always been bigger than teaching life skills. "These individuals are more than just their diagnosis or what people view them as. They are so much more than that."

That mindset fits squarely with GiGi's Playhouse's mission. The nonprofit provides free educational, therapeutic, and career development programs for people with Down syndrome of all ages, helping thousands of families build confidence, independence, and opportunity. Now, thanks to one graduate student's idea, even more people will have access to a roadmap for thriving well into adulthood.

A packed calendar can quickly crowd out that carefree summer feeling, but your body doesn't have to go along for the ride. Ritual's Stress Relief is designed to support your body's natural stress response with first-of-its-kind Bioseries™ technology, releasing clinically studied ingredients in phases for support that lasts.*

Designed to optimize ingredient release over 8 hours, the three-in-one tablet-in-capsule pairs ashwagandha, L-Theanine, and saffron to support normal cortisol levels, non-drowsy calm, and a positive mood throughout your busiest summer days.

Explore Ritual’s Summer Sale and save up to 30% on orders.

👆A group of Italian students just claimed a world record for largest paper airplane ever assembled, launching the giant plane just under 200 feet across a warehouse to claim the title. Their creation, built from paper and glue, measured nearly 23 feet long and had a wingspan of 65+ feet.

🍼 New mom Alyssa Martinez has donated over 1,500 ounces of breast milk to Texas NICUs, bringing hope and health to some of the tiniest patients in need.

😮 Jordan Rosenberg and Max Creamer couldn’t believe their ears when Jordan’s parent’s hijacked the speakers at their wedding and revealed a clip from over two decades ago, when 4-year-old Jordan accurately predicted her future husband's name.

🦭 Neil the Seal is somewhat of a local celebrity in Hobart, Tasmania, where the elephant seal oddly decided to take up residence twice a year during molting season. Other male seals will find remote islands to travel to for the big event, but Neil just can’t stay away from his adoring fans.

If you're new to meditation, you may think you need a calm, quiet place to sit in complete stillness for it to be effective.

While that's true for some traditional meditations, you can also practice mindfulness while out and about.

And lo and behold, here's a 12-minute simple meditation specifically geared towards you making you feel most present, calm, and relaxed during a walk. Possible excuses are dropping by the second. 😉

Give it a try.

You don’t need a cleaning cabinet packed with multiple bottles. CuraClean™ from Curativa Bay replaces all of them.

Powered by hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the same molecule your immune system produces to fight bacteria and support healing, CuraClean delivers hospital-grade disinfection that's up to 80x more powerful than bleach. It kills 99.999% of bacteria, viruses, and fungi on contact. No harsh chemicals, no toxic fumes, no residue.

EPA-registered and safe around children, pets, food-contact surfaces, and sensitive skin. Now available in a Wellness Bundle to cover your home, skin, and immunity.

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 the win we received this week!

🙏 Michael P from St. Clairsville, OH is welcoming his next chapter with gratitude:

• “I officially retired on June 30, 2026 after 38 years in the financial services industry! I am blessed to have this new chapter to enjoy family, traveling, and finding new ways to affirm and empower folks to thrive!”

⚡ Say goodbye to the “I'm at 3% and forgot my cable” anxiety. Rush Charge Universe is the world's fastest & most powerful 3-in-1 charger that can fit in the palm of your hand and plugs right into your device. Capable of charging 3 devices at once at lightning speed, it’s the only charger you’ll ever need. Save 60% with our exclusive discount. ✨

📅 Back-to-school season is upon us, which means a new year, new schedules, and new calendars. For the busy person juggling it all, the Skylight Calendar can change your life. See everything this smart calendar can do here. ✨

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

Today’s theme is words and literature. Can you get all three?

1. What is the only US state that can be typed in using only one row of a standard “QWERTY” keyboard?
2. The Hollywood sign in Los Angeles originally spelled out what word?
3. Which famous author, known as the "father of American literature," was the first to publish a book written on a typewriter?

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.

• And if you feel compelled to share, let us know what you're feeling especially grateful for or proud of.
• Nothing is too small or insignificant to celebrate, and we promise to be your biggest hype-people.😎

Submit your win (or a loved one's) for a chance to be featured in next week's newsletter.

1. Alaska (I bet you tried it, didn’t you?)
2. Hollywoodland; the “land” was removed in 1949, 26 years after the sign was first erected.
3. Mark Twain, with Life on the Mississippi, though he didn’t type it himself. Twain handwrote the draft, and his assistant later typed the final copy for the publisher.

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

*Disclaimer: 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.