Your Dose of Wonder Starts Here

A gentle invitation to explore this space

Dose of Wonder is a gentle space for your inner life—a place where awe, emotional honesty, and quiet reflection meet. I write about grief, healing, mental health, and the subtle magic tucked inside everyday moments.

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If you’re new here—or even if you’re not—you might be wondering what Dose of Wonder is all about.

So, grab your favorite cozy drink, find a comfy spot, and let’s dive in.

First off, thank you for stopping by! And if you want to stick around, subscribing is free and it really supports my work. Plus, you’ll get new posts delivered right to your inbox. Win-win.

You’ve probably caught glimpses from my little bio or the quick notes at the start of my newsletters: I write about wellbeing, mental health, grief and loss, mindfulness, self-improvement… But the thread weaving all of this together—what I really care about—is living life with a dose of wonder.

What does that even mean? Honestly, it can mean whatever you want it to. I’m not here to box you in or prescribe a rigid formula. Instead, let me flip the question to you, lovely reader.

What Does Wonder Mean?

What does living with a dose of wonder mean to you?

Here’s what it means to me (in case you were curious—though you probably weren’t):

It’s about noticing moments of awe and reverence in everyday life. It’s pausing to appreciate the small things—like a vibrant flower pushing through a crack in the concrete—that can quietly boost our wellbeing.

It’s about spotting silver linings during tough times, but without sliding into toxic positivity. No unicorns and rainbows all the time—just honest, real hope.

It’s remembering that when you’re down, there’s always an up on the horizon.

At its core, it’s about awareness. Becoming truly awake to everything around you—and inside you. From the biggest life events to the smallest, almost invisible details like your breath, which keeps you alive without even thinking.

It’s about connecting deeply to life in its entirety—dark and light, chaos and calm.

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Heart

This outlook draws from ancient wisdom like the Stoic ideas of Amor Fati and Memento Mori. Amor Fati means “love your fate”—embracing every part of your life, the good and the bad, because they shape who you are. Memento Mori means “remember that you will die.” It’s not a gloomy thought, but a bittersweet, life-affirming reminder. When we remember life’s impermanence, it can push us to squeeze every drop of wonder from each moment we’re given.

Holding On Through Hard Times

Living with a dose of wonder also means holding onto these truths when life is hard: This too shall pass and You’re stronger than you think.

Resilience isn’t just some abstract buzzword. It’s a muscle we can grow. Like palm trees bending in the storm, we can learn to sway without breaking.

A little gratitude, thankfulness, and appreciation—those things go a long way in nurturing this mindset.

And here’s one of my favourite quotes, from Buddhist teacher and nun Pema Chödrön:

“You are the sky. Everything else is just the weather.”

What does that mean? It’s a reminder that your true, authentic self—the core of who you are—is always enough. Whole. Constant. The ups and downs, the storms of life, they’re temporary weather passing through.

That’s where we find a dose of wonder.

In remembering that you—just as you are—are special, unique, and amazing.

The Miracle of Just Being Here

Actually, that’s one of the best ways I remind myself to live with a dose of wonder: just being alive is wildly, wonderfully miraculous.

Science tells us the odds of being born—of existing at all—are about 400 trillion to one. Let that sink in. The fact that you’re here, reading these words, breathing, living—it's almost unfathomable. I hesitate to say it, but it really is miraculous.

So that’s my approach to wonder:

• I look for silver linings.

• I look for things to be grateful for.

• I remind myself, in the words of poet Mary Oliver, to live my “one wild and precious life,” fully aware that life is fleeting and fragile, that what goes up must come down, and what falls will rise again.

Where to Wander Next

So, there you have it — Dose of Wonder in a slightly imperfect, meandering, but deeply heartfelt nutshell.

If you're curious to explore more, wander through the tabs at the top. You'll find themes like mental health, grief and loss, mindfulness, personal growth, and reflections that hold space for both the messy and the magical.

And if anything in this piece stirred something in you, I’d love to hear about it.

Now, I want to turn that question back to you—with a little twist.

Tell me:

how do you live with a dose of wonder?

Leave a comment. Share it with someone who needs a soft landing place. And if you’d like to carry a bit of this message with you, I’ve created a printable summary in my Ko-Fi shop.

Thanks for being here. Truly. I’m so glad we’ve crossed paths.

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

If this post resonated, please take a moment to heart it or share it with someone who might need a little wonder today. And if you love Dose of Wonder, I’d be so grateful if you’d recommend it to others on Substack.

There’s a lot of noise out there—but here, we make room for the quiet marvels.
If you’re curious about where Dose of Wonder is headed, I recently refreshed the entire space. Come take a peek.

Wherever you are in your season of life, I hope something here offers a spark, a breath, or a soft beginning.

As you wander here, you'll probably notice a curly auburn-haired woman featured in all article images. This illustrated woman isn’t me exactly (though I do have curly auburn hair and chestnut brown eyes and pale skin like she does — but she’s the emotional guide through this world of wonder, reflection, and rediscovery.

✨ P.S. If you ever feel moved to support this little corner of the internet — to help keep the lights on for more wonder, reflection, and creative joy — you can buy me a coffee here. Your support, in any form, means the world. 💛

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.

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