Thanksgiving is the ideal opportunity to reflect on all the things we typically take for granted throughout the year.
And that includes our ability to hear.
While sight, smell, and taste are at the forefront of our mind during the holidays, hearing oftentimes takes a back seat—that is, until we begin paying greater attention.
To completely enjoy the holiday season requires being fully present, and that includes being mindful of all the sounds that normally escape our full attention.
The following are five sounds to be mindful of and grateful for this Thanksgiving.
- The sound of food sizzling – You can’t match the aroma of roasting turkey filling the house, but have you ever paused to appreciate the sounds of a busy kitchen with food sizzling and popping 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 dining table – The holiday season is an opportunity to bring everyone together for engaging conversation. You won’t want to miss any big news or interesting 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 table carefully.
- Thanksgiving day football – To the disapproval 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 applauding crowds in the background is a staple of Thanksgiving day. You’ll want to ensure that you catch all of the music and festivities.
- Holiday movies – Has anybody ever not eaten too much at Thanksgiving dinner? After the big tryptophan-filled feast and plenty of socializing, it’s nice to sit back, relax, and watch your favorite movies.
Each one of these sounds amplify 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.
Unfortunately, hearing loss can dull or eliminate several of these sounds. Missing out on interesting discussions, or not being able to hear the dialogue in movies, brings about stress and anxiety that should have no part in the holiday celebrations.
That’s why we’re inviting people with hearing loss to give some thought to the use of hearing aids prior to the holiday season. Hearing aids can augment all five of the above sounds, bringing them into sharpened focus, potentially for the first time in years.
It’s time to take back your holiday season—book your hearing test today!
