The soothing sound of guitar strings are strummed inside a hospital. Musician Frank Smith plays daily concerts in Collier County hospitals as his way of giving back.

"It just calms everyone down -- patients, visitors, and even staff when they're around and have a break for a few minutes come by and hear soothing music," Smith says.

"If you listen to Frank, he's very very gentle, not loud and raucous. It's calming," Neurologist Michael Finkel, M.D. At Physicians Regional Hospital, says.

Dr. Finkel says there's truth to the medicine of music and art.

"There is something physical that happens," Dr. Finkel says. "When people relax, it can relax the blood pressure."

"Out of 25-30 adults in my family, everyone's on high blood pressure medicine but me, and I know it's due to what I do -- playing soft instrumentals because it lowers my blood pressure and clams me as well," Smith says.

Dr. Finkel says a painting hanging in his office gives his other patients perspective. The artist suffered a stroke.

"She did this one for me and gave this to me to show me she was recovered and to inspire my other patients who've had strokes," Dr. Finkel says.

Like music, he says art acts as therapy.

"Some people have to use the art to work their way through feelings," Dr. Finkel says.

Frank Smith's new album, called "Gardens of Hope," takes its name from Naples Community Hospital's Garden of Hope and Courage.

"It's just to give people a place to go to get away from the hustle and bustle of stress in their life," Smith says. "Playing in a hospital is more meaningful than playing anywhere else -- even better than playing on a stage in front of 20,000 people. It touches people and it touches me just the same."

Smith has also created what he calls "gratitude beads." There are 100 beads on a strand that he uses as a counting device to go through 100 things that he's thankful for on a daily basis.

"By showing gratitude on a regular basis, 10 minutes a day, and come up with 100 things that you're grateful for, you start then recognizing those things in your life," Smith says.

For more information about Smith's gratitude beads, go to gratitudebeads101.com.

If you have an idea for a Maggie Monday, email Maggie at maggie.crane@winktv.com.