Welcome back to another edition of Positive DONUT, the newsletter designed to feel like a huge hug in your inbox. 🫂

If your nervous system could use a bit of a reset, take this as your permission slip to sit back and relax with Positive DONUT for a few minutes—you deserve it.

As always, let me know which sections and stories are your favorite. I love hearing from you! 🥰

–Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s newsletter should be a ~3.43 minute read (913 words).

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I am complete as I am.

When David Clarke moved to New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood, he had no intention of becoming a local celebrity. But he can’t even go to the supermarket today without being stopped by strangers thanking him.

David isn’t a pop star, podcaster, or social media influencer. He’s a trash guy, and proud of it.

Let’s rewind: This spring, David started posting videos of himself picking up litter around Washington Heights, hoping to encourage others to do their small part in keeping their communities clean. 

• For him, it was one tangible way to feel useful in a sea of problems.
• David says he’s aiming to reverse what he calls “learned helplessness,” or community members’ overreliance on city government to maintain public spaces.

David also went on to launch Trash Talk NYC, expanding his mission beyond picking up trash to beautifying public spaces—particularly the tree beds lining city streets.

He spends his days planting native species, caring for the soil, building fences around each tiny garden, and even employing local kids to help paint them.

His idea is growing. David has racked up 280,000+ followers across social media documenting his journey to clean up the city. He’s since quit his job to pursue the mission full-time and raised ~$55,000 to keep the work going.

• More than anything, he's been touched by the genuine gratitude of the community.
• After David restored the small garden outside one woman’s building, she later showed up at his door with soup, a handwritten letter, a subway map, and other knickknacks to thank him.

The ultimate goal: David estimates it’ll take 3-5 years to beautify and plant every tree bed in New York. But the bigger idea is that he shouldn’t have to do it alone. With volunteers already joining Trash Talk NYC’s mission, it looks like he won’t.

“It all started with one person wanting to make a change. We all have that agency,” volunteer Lily Xiao told The City Reporter. “I think sometimes we forget, and [David is] a good reminder of that.”

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👆 You’re looking at some of the finalists from the 2026 Dog Photography Awards, which received ~1,900 entries across 50 countries. 

The annual competition celebrates our four-legged friends in all their forms, with this year’s photos capturing perfectly timed action shots, portraits that look like they belong in a museum, and more.

🎭 Thousands of Broadway fans braved a nor'easter late last month to get to NYC’s Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction, raising ~$1.5 million for Broadway Cares and Equity Fights AIDS. The 40th annual flea market featured a silent auction, a live auction, an autograph table & photo booth, and 63 tables filled to the brim with one-of-a-kind keepsakes from Broadway shows.

🦏🦓 The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya is currently fostering the cutest little bestie duo: Tytan the baby rhino and Notty the zebra. The two arrived at the Trust just one week apart after losing their moms, and quickly decided they would stick together. Now they spend their days grazing, exploring, and following each other around like two peas in a mismatched pod.

🚼 A 12-year-old girl in Arizona just hosted her fifth annual Diaper Drive, collecting 30,000+ diapers to donate to local food and clothing banks for families in need.

Meditation is a simple and effective way to take care of yourself. The act of mindfully sitting with ourselves and our breathing can have some amazing effects on our mental and physical health.

Give it a shot: Try out this quick self-love meditation when you have a spare 10 minutes for an instant boost of acceptance.

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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 Positive DONUT community.

Sadly, we didn’t receive any new submissions this week, so we’ll be featuring some wins from past editions that deserve some extra love. But we know you all have something to celebrate, big or small. So don’t be shy: submit your own win.

❤️ Margaret W. was one proud grandma (June, 2025):

• “I celebrated my granddaughter graduating from Kindergarten. We took pictures with all kinds of poses and went out to lunch. It was Wonderful 😊!!!!”

🏠 Linda M. from NJ took one step towards healing (January, 2025):

• “When my dad died in 2019, I moved into his home ( it had been my parent's home since 1977). My parents were Italian immigrants so there was more than enough of their belongings remaining in the house as they held onto ALOT! Being cut of the same cloth when I took residence, I alone, filled a 2000 square foot home to its brim. I’ve slowly cleaned things out but emotions prevented me from really purging. This week I filled bags of truly unnecessary, old items and made space and what a breath of fresh air and feeling of satisfaction that was! I have more to get to but now I know I can do it!”

✈️ Len L. from IL had a great trip with her bestie (February, 2024):

• “I have just returned home from a long weekend with a remote coworker turned close friend! I met my pal while we were working in the same company almost 2 years ago. Last week, I finally got to throw my arms around my friend & LAUGH for days. What a wonderful time we had. Thanks for sharing in our joy 🤩”

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🎨 What’s your hobby? Lately, I’ve been coloring to wind my brain down at the end of a long day. There’s something so calming and satisfying about creating something from scratch with no pressure, just enjoyment. I’m loving this Cozy Spaces book by CocoWyo. It’s the perfect blend of challenging and adorable.

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How many of these October-themed trivia questions can you get?

1. Can you name the two official birthstones for October?
2. Before people started carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns in Ireland, what root vegetable did they traditionally carve instead?
3. Who are the names of the three witch sisters resurrected in the 1993 Halloween cult-classic movie Hocus Pocus?
4. Which famous historical space milestone happened on October 4, 1957?

(Keep scrolling for the answers)

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 or small.

1. Opal and tourmaline
2. Turnips
3. Winifred, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson.
4. The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite.

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:

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