Thanksgiving is the optimal time to think about all the things we tend to take for granted throughout the year.
And that includes our ability to hear.
While sight, taste, and smell are at the forefront of our mind during the holiday season, hearing often takes a back seat—that is, until we start paying better attention.
To completely savor the holiday season requires being entirely present, and that includes being alert to all the sounds that generally escape our full attention.
Below are five sounds to be mindful of and thankful for this Thanksgiving.
- The sound of food sizzling – You can’t match the smell of roasting turkey filling the house, but have you ever paused to appreciate the sounds of a lively kitchen with food popping and sizzling and timers going off? With a house filled with hungry guests, you’re especially not going to want to miss those timers.
- Conversations around the table – The holiday season is an opportunity to bring everyone together for engaging conversation. You won’t want to miss any big news or amusing stories from friends and family you rarely get to see. And as for those you’d rather not hear from, you’ll just have to choose your seat at the dinner table carefully.
- Thanksgiving day football – To the discouragement of many non-football fans, the NFL has somehow included itself into the holiday tradition. But for the sports fans in the family, the sounds of the crowd, the big hits, and the eruption after a touchdown are hard to match in intensity.
- Thanksgiving day parades – The sound of marching bands and cheering crowds in the background is a staple of Thanksgiving day. You’ll want to make sure you catch all of the music and festivities.
- Holiday movies – Has anybody ever not consumed too much at Thanksgiving dinner? After the heavy tryptophan-filled feast and lots of socializing, it’s nice to sit back, relax, and watch your favorite films.
Each of these sounds augment the full Thanksgiving experience, and the more attentive we are of them, the more we can savor the day. It’s part of staying fully present and immersing yourself in the moment.
Regretfully, hearing loss can dull or eliminate several of these sounds. Missing out on worthwhile discussions, or not being able to hear the dialogue in movies, causes stress and anxiousness that should have no part in the holiday celebrations.
That’s why we’re encouraging those with hearing loss to consider the use of hearing aids in advance of the holiday season. Hearing aids can augment all five of the above sounds, bringing them into sharp focus, perhaps for the first time in many years.
It’s time to take back your holiday season—arrange your hearing test today!