Thanksgiving is a time for us to reflect on the many blessings that each of us have enjoyed not just for this past year, but those in previous years as well as those to come.

Many of us have our health to be thankful for, no matter how many aches and pains we may have to endure each day. There's also family, friends and a multitude of other reasons on what we can be thankful for.

But our freedom and living in a democratic society has to be at the top of many of our lists. It's something that can be easily taken for granted.

Just something simple as having the right to vote should cause many of us to be thankful for the country in which we not only reside, but one that many of us are proud to call home.