Good afternoon! Thanks for being here for another edition of Positive DONUT, the weekly newsletter with one simple goal: to help you remember that our world is full of good.

Let me know which stories and sections of the newsletter you love, and don’t forget to submit a win if you have something to share. I always love hearing from you. Have an amazing week. 🥰

-Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s newsletter should be a ~2.81 minute read (748 words).

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I breathe in confidence. I exhale doubt.

When Thalles DeSouza started working at a Wendy’s in Cape Cod, MA, as a high schooler, college seemed like a distant dream. A few years later, and he’s headed to Yale on a full-ride scholarship.

Getting there took a village

Thalles grew up near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where his family faced poverty and violence. In 2016, after a shootout inside their home, his mother decided to leave everything behind and move their family to the US.

• Thalles landed a job at Wendy’s while attending high school in Massachusetts, quickly making an impression on those who worked there.
• That included owners Usama El-Sehrawey and the late Ernest Smily, who promoted him to shift manager during his senior year.

Just before Thalles was about to graduate, his Wendy's family made him an offer that would change the trajectory of his life: they wanted to pay his full tuition to attend community college.

The gesture meant much more than a tuition bill disappearing. After the tough childhood Thalles had, he couldn’t believe someone truly believed in him.

“College to me was something really far from my reach,” Thalles said. “I understood that someone was betting on me, so it was now my time to do my part.”

Which is exactly what he did. Thalles excelled at community college before applying to more prestigious universities. This May, he was accepted to Yale with a full-ride scholarship.

• Thalles plans to study political science and human rights at Yale before pursuing a career as a lawyer.
• And four years after his bosses first opened that door, he hasn’t forgotten who helped him walk through it.

“Sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in you,” Thalles said. “I’m living proof of that!”

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🐾 Nearly 150 fluffy-butts zoomed across a turfed race track as part of the fifth annual Corgi Race Vilnius in Lithuania this weekend.

The event saw pups and their owners from nine different countries compete in multiple races, costume contests, a "smartest nose" tracking competition, puzzle-solving contests, and a "Mightiest Voice" barking contest.

🪁 A new “Park Play” Lending Library recently opened in Oakland, CA, giving community members the opportunity to check out toys, games, outdoor equipment, and more for free.

🏃‍♀️ As Emma Kessler got closer to running her first half-marathon, her nerves about not having a running partner got harder to ignore. Desperate to have someone running the 13-miles alongside her to keep spirits high, she had no idea the surprise her boyfriend was planning behind the scenes.

💪 In case you’re looking for some inspiration…Here's a quick reminder that you’re never too old to succeed. Check out these inspiring people who achieved great things later in life.

What are you waiting for? Grab your journal, pick one or two of the prompts below, and get writing.

1. What are three boundaries that protect your peace and mental health?
2. Who in your life helps you feel seen and heard?
3. What are your personal strengths and talents?
4. Write a letter to your future self, expressing your hopes and dreams.
5. What can you do today to prioritize self-care and nurture your mental health?

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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 the Positive DONUT community.

I love sharing national and global news stories, but there’s something extra special about hearing what’s going on in your lives.

Check out this week's submissions:

🤓 One anonymous reader is a trivia master.

• "I always do the weekly trivia quizzes in newsletters I receive. One of them posts your first name if you get a perfect score (you send a screenshot of score)… I finally did it!!"

✈️ Another anonymous subscriber is stepping into her supermom shoes.

• "I took a SOLO flight with my 14-month old all the way from Boston to Vancouver (6.5) hours). Navigating the airport was tricky, and we had some tears on the flight itself, but overall our travel day went pretty smoothly. Traveling internationally with a crawling toddler is no small feat, and I’m feeling proud of myself!"

📆 I truly don’t know who I’d be without my Skylight calendar (okay, a little dramatic, but still). 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. ✨

✍️ Got the journaling bug after our Mindfulness Moment? What if I told you committing to it for just five minutes/day could change your life? More gratitude, deeper mindfulness, higher self awareness…meet the 5 Minute Journal. ✨

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

1. What's full of holes, but still holds water?
2. What has keys but opens no locks, and has space but no room?

Whether you had an energizing conversation with a friend, beat a sickness, met a milestone at work, or even just booked a dream trip, 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🥰.

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

Share your accomplishments—big and small—here.

1. A sponge
2. A keyboard

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