I’ve heard many people say, “Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks.”

It is a time when people should say thank you to those whom they treasure and value; a time to appreciate life’s blessings. Some people believe it is easier to remember the bad things more often than the good. Therefore, they have to make a conscious effort to reflect on a multitude of blessings they have encountered and take the time to show at least a small amount of respect and gratitude for what is important and appreciated in their lives.

For most people, the first focus for giving thanks is in regard to family. Even though children can make one feel exasperated at times, they are gifts from God that are ultimately priceless. Sometimes it seems that the people or aspects in our lives that cause us the greatest amount of stress or concern appears to be what we are most thankful for. Maybe it’s the people or family members that we spend the most time with that clings close to our hearts. Yet, we often fail to remind those people of what degree we truly love them. Gifts are nice, kind words and gestures are great, but true gratitude is shown daily without a selfish motive.

Saying grace before a meal, giving thoughtful gifts at Christmas or simply spending quality time with others is a common way to express one’s appreciation for food, friends or a loved one. However, it seems as though many people forget to be thankful for their health until they are injured. Electricity is often appreciated during a power outage. Life is appreciated after recovery from an accident. Relationships are valued after a separation has occurred. There are so many things in life that can and should be respected and shown a degree of gratitude.

Take a few minutes to seriously think about the different areas of your life that have been flooded with blessings. Think about the things you would miss if you no longer had possession of those items. Losing contact with people, forms of entertainment, transportation or work can create a level of anxiety and frustration that leaves one feeling weak and unimportant.

Therefore, it is wise to take good care of the things that you value and especially the people who are significant in your life, whether they are close or at a distance.

The power of giving thanks can create an inner peace that enables one to feel better about one’s self and life in general.

Dr. Sonya Rogers is a certified counselor who lives in Daphne.

Her column regularly appears in The Bulletin.