Dose of Wonder, Refreshed: Brighter, Softer, Still Full of Awe

Come see what’s new — and what still feels like home

Guess what, friends?

Dose of Wonder has had a little glow-up.

A quiet revamp, a soft refresh — brighter, warmer, and still brimming with awe.

Everything’s been lovingly re-imagined, except the Magazine layout (because I still love it and I’m not sure that’ll ever change).

I wanted this space to feel a little more me — softer edges, subtle sparkle, and that golden thread of wonder I try to weave through everything here.

🎨 New Logo

Say hello to the new Dose of Wonder logo!

It’s got a touch of literal sparkle — like one of those sparklers you light at celebrations. See that tiny flicker at the end of the “f” in of? Cute, right? And I adore the way the W gently flows into the N, adding a bit of whimsy and flow. It’s like the logo itself is whispering, “There’s magic here.”

🎙Updated Podcast Art + Guest Post Image

I’ve freshened up the podcast cover art to match the new vibe — warm, inviting, and still deeply personal.

And the guest post image - also revamped, with hopes of new collaborations coming soon. Because what’s a glow-up without inviting new voices and stories to join the journey?

✨ New Email Divider & ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ Button

I created a subtle new divider for the bottom of my emails — a gentle blend of peach and navy, dotted with tiny sparkles. It’s the perfect little pause between my articles and the rest of your inbox. Isn’t it so pretty? (And you might not even see the subtle sparkles unless you zoom in - hidden sparkle, unless you're really paying attention.

And the ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ button got a refresh too — softer, friendlier, with a touch of warmth to match the whole experience.

Here’s the updated blurb I’m using now:

Dose of Wonder is a free publication.
If something here stirred your heart or made you pause — and you’d like to support my work — you can do so for less than the price of a fancy coffee (just $3).
Click the image below or the ‘Support Me’ link at the top of my page (doseofwonder.ca).
Every small contribution helps keep the wonder flowing.

With heartfelt thanks, always.
— Caitlin

📝 Refreshed About Page

I rewrote the About page to better capture what this space means to me — and, I hope, to you.

Welcome fellow wanderer,

This is a quiet space for tender-hearted people — the ones navigating grief, burnout, transition, or just the strange ache of being human.

I'm Caitlin, and Dose of Wonder is my weekly offering of soft, steady reflection. I write for those who are tired of the pressure to “transform” and are instead seeking presence, permission to pause, and little sparks of awe along the way. Through personal reflections, mindfulness practices, and shared experiences, I aim to inspire a sense of wonder in the everyday.

Here’s what you’ll find here. In my weekly articles and podcasts, I write/talk about:

• Mindfulness

• grief/loss

• mental health

• personal growth

• general life musings

In my Substack Notes I share:

🌿 Tiny Wonder Drops – one-sentence sparks of stillness

🕊 Short & Sweet Doses of Wonder – small essays with heart

🗺 Wandering Notes – behind-the-scenes glimpses into my own messy path

🌸 Soft Invitations – image or quote posts to gently ground you

💬 Quiet Calls to the Community – chat prompts that invite your voice, too

My goal isn’t to fix you, heal you, or hand you a 12-step plan. I just want to walk alongside you, offering soft words for your inner life and a reminder that even weary hearts can hold wonder.

Subscribe to receive free Notes and doses of wonder right in your inbox each week — and if you ever want to reply, please do. I love hearing from kindreds.

✉️ New Email Header & Footer

I trimmed down the email header and footer to keep things simple and inviting.

New header:
Hello fellow wanderer,
Come as you are. Pour something warm ☕, maybe grab a little treat 🥐, and let this be a soft pause in your day — a quiet moment for wonder.
Here, I share reflections on grief, healing, mindfulness, and all the quiet, beautiful things I don’t want to lose in the noise.
So grateful you’re here. Let’s wander gently, together.

New footer:
If something here resonated, I’d be so grateful if you passed it along to someone who might need it. A little share, a kind note, or even just knowing you were here — it all means the world.
Until next time, may you carry a small, quiet dose of wonder with you.
With warmth,
Caitlin

Refreshed Welcome Email

The welcome email new subscribers receive now feels more like a gentle invitation to stay awhile:

Subject: Welcome to Dose of Wonder — A Soft Place to Land

Hi there, wonder-seeker!
I’m so glad you’re here.
Whether you arrived through a quiet nudge, a friend’s recommendation, or a moment of curiosity, welcome to Dose of Wonder — a soft space for your inner life.
This newsletter is a gentle companion for those of us feeling a little weary, a little hopeful, and still reaching toward light. Together, we explore small joys, slow moments, resilience, grief, burnout, and beauty in all its quiet forms.

Looking for a good place to begin? Here are a few reader favourites:

“The Better Angels Of This Moment ”

“Beautiful In The Breaking: The Art of Becoming Whole”

“The Beautiful Mess Effect: Vulnerability as Strength”

Here’s what you can expect each week:

📝 In weekly essays and podcasts, I reflect on:
– Mindfulness
– Mental Health
– Grief + Loss
– Personal Growth
– The tender, tangled mess of being human

✨ In Substack Notes, you’ll also find these magic micro-moments:
🌿 Tiny Wonder Drops – one-sentence sparks of awe and reflection
🌸 Soft Invitations – a single image or quote to gently guide you inward
🗺 Wandering Notes – behind-the-scenes glimpses into my own messy path
🕊 Quiet Calls to the Community – questions and prompts to meet you in the Chat
☀️ Short & Sweet Doses of Wonder – mini essays with heart and warmth

If you're in the mood to wander slowly, you're in the right place.

You’re always welcome to hit reply — I love hearing from kindreds.

With wonder,
Caitlin

P.S. If something here resonates, you can show support in a few ways: tap the heart, leave a comment, or share this space with someone who might need it. You can also support my work for less than the price of a fancy coffee — just $3 — by clicking below. Your presence and encouragement mean the world.

🎧 Podcast Blurb Refresh

I also refreshed the little blurb on my podcast page to say:

Welcome to my little corner of the podcast world — where I get into mindfulness, mental health, grief, and personal growth, all sprinkled with honest life reflections and, of course, a generous dose of wonder. If you’re looking for real talk, gentle inspiration, and a space to explore what it means to live fully and mindfully, you’re in the right place.

A Little Bio

And a softer, clearer bio that fits the new vibe and invites connection without pretense.

📝 New Guest Post Info

I also updated the bit about becoming a guest post writer that I put at the bottom of my emails:

P.S. Want to write for Dose of Wonder?

If you're curious about sharing your voice and ideas here as a guest writer, I’d love to hear from you. Your piece will be sent to all my subscribers—and you can cross-post it to your own audience too.

✨ More eyes. More wonder. More connection.

Curious? Read this article for all the details → (I’ll add it in later!)

Updated Welcome/Front Page

And last but not least, I updated that little paragraph that people see when they first land on my Substack page:

And that little custom line you can change when people want to take a peek first:

And really last but not least, as you may have noticed I’ve also changed/updated all the images that go along with all the articles to fit the new, refreshed, more Dose-of-Wonder-y vibe to make it feel more wonder-ful and less kind of heavy and dark that a lot of the previous images had - more like a light, gauzy curtain than a heavy blanket.

I’d love to know what you think about this refresh! What’s your favourite new detail? Or what would you like to see more of in this next chapter of Dose of Wonder?

Here’s to brighter days, softer edges, and still holding space for awe.

— Caitlin

(and here’s the fun bit where I’ll get to actually add in some of my new things!)

If this letter found you at the right time, feel free to share it with someone else who might need a little wonder today.

Dose of Wonder is a free publication.
If something here stirred your heart or made you pause — and you’d like to support my work — you can do so for less than the price of a fancy coffee (just $3).
Click the image below or the ‘Support Me’ link at the top of my page (doseofwonder.ca).
Every small contribution helps keep the wonder flowing.

With heartfelt thanks, always.
— Caitlin

P.S. Want to write for Dose of Wonder?

If you're curious about sharing your voice and ideas here as a guest writer, I’d love to hear from you. Your piece will be sent to all my subscribers—and you can cross-post it to your own audience too.

✨ More eyes. More wonder. More connection.

Curious? Read this article for all the details →