Thanksgiving is the optimal occasion to reflect on all the things we normally take for granted throughout the year.
And that includes our ability to hear.
While sight, smell, and taste are at the front of our mind throughout the holidays, hearing often takes a back seat—that is, until we start paying greater attention.
To thoroughly enjoy the holiday season requires being fully present, and that includes being alert to all the sounds that in general escape our full attention.
The following 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 the house, but have you ever paused to indulge in the sounds of a busy kitchen with food sizzling and popping and timers going off? With a house filled with hungry guests, you’re specifically not going to want to miss those timers.
- Conversations around the table – The holiday season is a chance to bring everybody together for engaging conversation. You won’t want to miss any big news or humorous 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 dinner table carefully.
- Thanksgiving day football – To the discouragement of many non-football fans, the NFL has somehow integrated 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 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 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 amplify the complete Thanksgiving experience, and the more attentive we are of them, the more we can enjoy the day. It’s part of staying fully present and immersing yourself in the moment.
Unfortunately, hearing loss can weaken or eliminate several of these sounds. Missing out on interesting conversations, 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 inviting people with hearing loss to give some thought to the use of hearing aids prior to the holiday season. Hearing aids can optimize all five of the preceding sounds, bringing them into sharp focus, perhaps for the first time in a long time.
It’s time to take back your holiday season—schedule your hearing test today!
