BY NANCY KIDD

I suppose we all have periods in our lives when we feel defeated and overwhelmed, times when the weight of the world holds us pinned motionless to the mat. As much as I have tried to resist, I find myself in that position right now.

I strive to live a joy-filled life, and much of the time, by focusing on gratitude and positivity, I float through my days feeling lighthearted and at peace. At this moment, however, I am struggling to find that higher plane.

This week, like millions of others, I was astonished to hear the president reversed his own policy on separating immigrant families through the signing of an executive order. Initially, it sounded like great news, but as the events unfolded, it became apparent the problems were not going away and that even more problems might result.

There seems to be a pervasive air of chaos as the government tries to sort out its new policies regarding immigrant families. There has been talk of keeping families together — together but whole families being detained. Some news sources indicated families could be held for indefinite periods of time, perhaps for months or even for years.

The children already taken from their parents? What about them?

As I try to follow and understand the news, it appears the government has no reunification plan in place. It is being speculated that a number of the children may, in fact, NEVER see their families again. Unbelievable and utterly tragic — all of this caused by the extreme cruelty of our own government’s actions.

Of course there’s never been any acknowledgment of responsibility. No, acceptance of personal responsibility is considered a sign of weakness by so many in power today.

Instead, leaders opt for denial, blaming others, pointing fingers at adversaries, and repeating lies until we all lose track of what the truth was.

There seems to be no escaping this ugly environment.

Still, knowing I can be of little service to others as long I am laid low, I determine to stand back up. I turn once again to the practices that previously buoyed me — practices that just happen to coincide with the name of my blog. I realize it is time now to “gather the good.”

I strongly believe that what we focus on grows, so at his moment, I choose to focus on the good, wherever I can find it.

I find good in the news that commercial airlines — United, American, Frontier and Southwest — have all refused to fly immigrant children separated from their parents for the government.

I see the good in the news that widespread public outrage forced the president to change his policy.

There is good in the news that millions of dollars have just been raised to aid immigrant families.

I find good in the news that politicians who have never before taken a stand against the president’s policies, finally found the courage to do so.

I see the good in the news that so many people have risked their jobs to reveal the horrendous conditions the asylum seekers have been subjected to.

I find it in the realization that these problems have gotten Democrats and Republicans to finally come together, and it gives me hope that more bipartisanship efforts will follow.

Additionally, I choose to focus on the good I personally experience in a day. At our weekly Toastmasters meeting, a warm, welcoming place where a culturally diverse group of people came together for an hour to grow, to support one another, and to laugh. It was at the grocery store in the new cashier’s shining eyes and friendly, smiling manner. It was in my son’s voice when he called “just because.” It was in the loud and crazy baying of my beloved Beagle when I returned home. And it will continue as we relax through dinner and conversation in our safe, cozy home.

Countless blessings, for sure.

The more I turn my attention to them, the more I see them, and the more they grow. And though I have no desire to stop thinking of the thousands of immigrant children still separated from their families or of the world’s millions of other people in dire situations, I will continue recounting my own blessings along with a prayer that they will sustain me — sustain me ultimately so I may be of service to others.