Can you believe the most stunning, inspiring, and amazing person is looking down at this email right now? (Hint: You can see them in a mirror)

I hope you enjoy today’s edition of Positive DONUT, the newsletter whose only goal is to spread the good in the world. Let me know which sections are your favorites, I love hearing from you! 

-Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s newsletter should be a ~3.07 minute read (817 words).

Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe for free.

Every step I take today is a step in the right direction.

Los Angeles high schooler Hugh Saetia knows more about grief than most 17-year-olds. He was just 6 when his mother died from gastrointestinal cancer, with a nanny named Marilyn stepping in to help care for Hugh and his brother and became something of a second mom.

• Then, when Hugh was 14, Marilyn experienced a devastating loss of her own when her son Eddie died.
• Wanting to do something for her, Hugh turned to one of his favorite pastimes: painting.

He created a portrait of Eddie alongside Marilyn’s granddaughter and gave it to her as a gift. Marilyn cried, hugged Hugh, and told him how much the painting meant to her. The experience made Hugh wonder whether he could do the same for other grieving families.

He eventually founded the Eternal Canvas Foundation, a nonprofit that provides free oil portraits to families who have lost loved ones.

• At first, Hugh approached people at the cemetery where his mother is buried and offered to paint portraits for them.
• He paid for the canvases, brushes, and paints himself using money he earned helping his dad and brother sharpen knives at a local farmers’ market.

Since then, Eternal Canvas has expanded to commission artists from around the world, including some who have experienced significant loss themselves. The nonprofit currently has ~400 active portrait requests.

Hugh is also still painting for Marilyn. He’s working on another piece for her, this time depicting her late husband and sons.

For Hugh, it’s a way to give grieving families something tangible to remember their loved ones by, and to heal a little bit of himself through each creation process.

Brooklinen’s got the perfect sheet for however you sleep. Loved by millions and awarded by Wirecutter, Architectural Digest and many more, Brooklinen’s crisp Classic Percale and softer than soft Luxe Sateen Sheets are truly the best sheets EVER.

For a limited time, save 25% sitewide and up to 50% off award-winning bedding and bath bundles during Brooklinen’s Labor Day Sale!

☝️ After making history as the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit, NASA astronaut Christina Koch returned home to North Carolina and spent time answering questions from two dozen elementary school students.

Koch, who was honored with the state’s Order of the Tar Heel, encouraged the kids to pursue their interests, embrace their unique talents, and support the people around them.

🌊 The Ocean Conservancy’s 2025 International Coastal Cleanup saw ~630,000 volunteers remove ~13.9 million pieces of trash from 15,000+ miles of beaches, rivers, and waterways. The haul included 1.3+ million plastic bottles, 1.2+ million cigarette butts, and 885,000 bottle caps.

👵🏻 The world’s oldest person, as acknowledged by Guinness World Records, turned 117 last Friday. Ethel Caterham shared that her secret to longevity is her “nonconfrontational” attitude towards life: never arguing while rarely compromising.

💞 Olivia Rodrigo’s new music festival, Daisy Chain Fields, raised $20 million for reproductive rights, half of which came from a matching donation from Melinda French Gates.

If you've been around for a while, you know that I'm a big fan of meditation. The simple act of sitting still with our breath for a few moments can have some pretty incredible effects on our overall well-being.

Taking some "me time": If you could use a little mental reset, try out this quick and simple Fresh Start Meditation. It'll only take ten minutes of your day, and it's Positive DONUT-guaranteed to have you feeling more grounded than a lightning rod by the end.

Try it out.

🏰 Save up to $500… Experience the wonders of Austria, Germany, Hungary, and more on this 15-day river cruise. Book by 9/5.

⛰️Savings up to $500… Cruise from Basel to Amsterdam on this romantic 8-day getaway with 2-for-1 fares. Book by 9/5.

🚂 As low as $133… Explore Alaska by rail with iconic routes, dome-car views, and wildlife encounters. Book by 9/5.

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 stories from around the globe, but there’s just something extra special about hearing what’s going on in your lives.

Check out this week's submissions:

👯‍♀️ Maria V. from Kissimmee, FL, is spending time with her bestie:

• “My best friend lives in Denver, CO and in a matter of 24 hours, we planned an impromptu trip for her to come out here and spend time together doing what we both love. No matter the distance, we still manage to plan shenanigans as if we were still living 15 minutes from each other.”

🙏 One anonymous subscriber from VA is thankful for steps forward:

• “After a year of doctors visits and insurance denials, I have finally been able to get my hands on the medication I need to treat my chronic illness! It's been a long road, and it's far from over, but I have hope again for the first time in a long time.”

💪 Elizabeth Z. from NJ is stepping out of her comfort zone:

• “I've been trying to do things to get out of my comfort zone (at 67 years old, lol). I'm making things to enter into a craft fair for the first time. I'm also participating in the American Cancer Society fundraiser by walking my (grand)dog 1 mile a day for the month of September. Two years ago, I became a lecturer in my church - public speaking doesn't come easily.”

We asked for your recs...and you delivered. Some reader suggestions:

• "My favorite podcast is Smartless with Will Arnett, Sean Hayes, and Jason Bateman. Laugh out loud, funny!!"
• "The Sister Fidelma books by Peter Tremayne are set in 7th century Ireland are very informative and extremely entertaining, providing an insight to that time period in Ireland. I love them!"

Happy September 1st! Give your best shot at these September-themed trivia questions.

1. Which animated Stone Age family made its TV debut on September 30, 1960?
2. September comes from the Latin word septem. What number does that word mean?
3. Which band recorded the 1978 hit song “September”?

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. The Flintstones. The show became the first animated series to hold a regular prime-time network slot.
2. Seven. The name dates back to the old Roman calendar, when March was the first month and September was seventh.
3. Earth, Wind & Fire

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

Made it this far? Let us know what you think:

👍 👋 👎