by Joan Celebi, Ed.M., CLC
Founder, SpecialNeedsParentCoach.com

Monday's Action Step was to make a Happy List. Have you started yours yet?

If not, no worries - you can jot down a few ideas now, and always add to it later on!

If you missed Monday's Action Step of the Week for parents of children with special needs, you can read it here. You can help your children make their own Happy Lists, too!

"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

-- Nathaniel Hawthorne

This quote hits the nail on the head on the topic of happiness. Have you noticed all the books lately on the topic of finding happiness? For so many people, the tendency is to get so caught up in the search for happiness, that they forget they don't really need to look for it at all.

On days when you wonder what happened to your sense of joy, remember: joyful moments are all around us, all the time. Tune in to those moments by slowing down, living in the moment, and being present and mindful as you go about your day. You'll be amazed at the joyful moments you discover, with very little effort!

You can also create joyful moments during times when joy seems scarce. For some ideas, try checking out my book, Overwhelmed No More: The Complete System for Balanced Living for Parents of Children with Special Needs. You'll find a whole chapter on attracting joy - plus much more!