Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to think about all the things we usually take for granted throughout the year.
And that includes our capacity to hear.
While sight, taste, and smell are at the front of our mind during the holidays, hearing generally takes a back seat—that is, until we start paying better attention.
To thoroughly enjoy the holiday season requires being fully present, and that includes being mindful of all the sounds that in most cases escape our full attention.
Here are five sounds to be mindful of and thankful for this Thanksgiving.
- The sound of a busy kitchen – You can’t beat the aroma of roasting turkey filling up the house, but have you ever paused to appreciate the sounds of a lively 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 table – The holiday season is a chance to get everybody together for stimulating conversation. You won’t want to miss out on any big news or amusing stories from friends and family you hardly 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 traditions. But for the sports fans in the family, the sounds of the crowd, the big hits, and the eruption after a touchdown are difficult 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 make sure you catch all of the music and activities.
- Holiday movies – Has anyone ever not consumed too much at Thanksgiving dinner? After the big tryptophan-filled meal and plenty of socializing, it’s nice to unwind, relax, and watch your favorite films.
Each one of these sounds add to the full Thanksgiving experience, and the more attentive we are of them, the more we can savor the day. It’s part of remaining fully present and immersing yourself in the moment.
Regretfully, hearing loss can dull or eliminate many of these sounds. Missing out on important discussions, or not being able to hear the conversation in movies, brings about stress and anxiousness that should have no part in the holiday celebrations.
That’s why we’re urging those with hearing loss to give some thought to the use of hearing aids in advance of the holiday season. Hearing aids can heighten all five of the preceding sounds, bringing them into sharp focus, potentially for the first time in many years.
It’s time to take back your holiday season—book your hearing test today!