Thanksgiving is the optimal time to think about all the things we normally 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 throughout the holiday season, hearing commonly takes a back seat—that is, until we begin paying greater attention.
To thoroughly savor the holiday season calls for being entirely present, and that includes being mindful of 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 a busy kitchen – You can’t match the aroma of roasting turkey filling up the house, but have you ever paused to appreciate the sounds of a busy 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 dining table – The holiday season is an opportunity to get everybody together for stimulating conversation. You won’t want to miss any big news or amusing stories from the family members you hardly get to see. And as for those you’d rather not hear from, you’ll just have to pick your seat at the table carefully.
- Thanksgiving day football – To the dismay of many non-football fans, the NFL has somehow incorporated 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 ensure that you catch all of the music and activities.
- Holiday movies – Has anybody ever not consumed too much at Thanksgiving dinner? After the big tryptophan-filled feast and lots of socializing, it’s nice to sit back, relax, and watch your favorite films.
Each one of these sounds enhance the full Thanksgiving experience, and the more mindful we are of them, the more we can savor the day. It’s an important part of remaining fully present and immersing yourself in the moment.
Regretfully, hearing loss can dull or eliminate several of these sounds. Missing out on important conversations, 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 urging people with hearing loss to give some thought to the use of hearing aids in advance of the holiday season. Hearing aids can boost all five of the above sounds, bringing them into sharpened focus, possibly for the first time in a long time.
It’s time to take back your holiday season—schedule your hearing test today!