As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s only fitting to start thinking of what we’re thankful for. Whether it’s friends, family, health or career, everyone has a different priority. Naturally, for me music came to mind.

For the past four months I’ve been covering country music for AOL’s The Boot. Growing up, I wasn’t a country fan and never imagined I’d spend the day with Keith Urban or travel to Nashville and interview Martina McBride. Much to Farrah’s chagrin, I was a HUGE boy band fan. Backstreet Boys were my first love and I seriously (embarrassed to admit) thought I would marry Brian Littrell – the nice, southern, Christian boy in the group.

Boy bands aside, I’ve since acquired a strong appreciation for country music. The lyrics, the emotion and the story behind each song always manage to strike a chord. Before a Dierks Bentley show with friends at City Winery I spent the day listening to his MySpace page and “Better Believer” off his album, Feel That Fire spoke to me. Written by Bentley and Rivers Rutherford, I think you might agree.

Life is seen more clearly through our tears
Cause we all find some faith
When we face our fears
When my life’s goin like I want
God becomes an afterthought
And I start trying to build my Heaven here

A better believer would look to the skies
And shout “hallelujah” with tears in his eyes
Open his heart and start givin it all away
When I take a hard look at myself
And count my blessings I can’t but help
But wonder if there’s been some kind of mistake
This life of mine should belong to a better believer

All we really need in life is love
And in my time I’ve had more than enough
But some days I’m not satisfied
It happens to me every time
I look around instead of looking up

With all I’ve got to be thankful for
I should be doing so much more
I know

This song made me think about my own life and how the lyrics are so true – “When my life’s going like I want God becomes an afterthought.” When things are going my way I seem to forget He’s there. But, it’s the times that things go bad – death, job loss, an illness, that one tends to “look to the skies” for answers.

Since turning 26 earlier this month, I’ve made it a point to thank God when good things happen in my life. So far, it’s made all the difference.

Do you count your blessings? What are you thankful for this year?