5 Sounds to be Thankful for This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect on all the things we have the tendency to take for granted throughout the year.

And that includes our capacity to hear.

While sight, taste, and smell are at the forefront of our mind during the holidays, hearing oftentimes takes a back seat—that is, until we start paying better attention.

To fully savor the holiday season requires being fully present, and that includes being alert to all the sounds that normally escape our full attention.

Below are five sounds to be mindful of and thankful for this Thanksgiving.

1. The sound of a busy kitchen – You can’t beat the aroma of roasting turkey filling the house, but have you ever paused to indulge in the sounds of a busy kitchen with food popping and sizzling and timers going off? With a house filled with hungry guests, you’re specifically not going to want to miss those timers.
2. Conversations around the dining table – The holiday season is an opportunity to get everybody together for engaging conversation. You won’t want to miss out on any big news or humorous 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.
3. Thanksgiving day football – To the discouragement 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 tough to match in intensity.
4. Thanksgiving day parades – The sound of marching bands and applauding crowds in the background is an essential of Thanksgiving day. You’ll want to make sure you catch all of the music and festivities.
5. Holiday movies – Has anybody ever not consumed too much at Thanksgiving dinner? After the big tryptophan-filled meal and lots of socializing, it’s nice to unwind, 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 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 important discussions, or not being able to hear the conversation in movies, creates stress and anxiousness that should have no part in the holiday celebrations.

That’s why we’re inviting those 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 above sounds, bringing them into sharp focus, perhaps for the first time in a long time.

It’s time to take back your holiday season—arrange your hearing test today!