Thanksgiving is the optimal opportunity to reflect on all the things we usually take for granted throughout the year.

And that includes our capacity to hear.

While sight, smell, and taste are at the front of our mind throughout the holidays, hearing generally takes a back seat—that is, until we begin paying better attention.

To thoroughly savor the holiday season calls for being fully present, and that includes being alert to all the sounds that ordinarily escape our full attention.

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

1. The sound of a busy kitchen – You can’t beat the smell of roasting turkey filling 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 packed with hungry guests, you’re especially not going to want to miss those timers.
2. Conversations around the table – The holiday season is an opportunity to get everyone together for stimulating conversation. You won’t want to miss out on any big news or humorous stories from the family members you rarely get to see. And as for those you’d rather not hear from, you’ll just have to select your seat at the dinner table carefully.
3. 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 tough to match in intensity.
4. 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.
5. Holiday movies – Has anybody ever not consumed too much at Thanksgiving dinner? After the heavy tryptophan-filled meal and plenty of socializing, it’s nice to sit back, relax, and watch your favorite films.

All of these sounds add to the complete 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 weaken or eliminate several of these sounds. Missing out on worthwhile conversations, or not being able to hear the dialogue in movies, creates stress and anxiousness that should have no part in the holiday celebrations.

That’s why we’re urging those with hearing loss to consider the use of hearing aids ahead of the holiday season. Hearing aids can optimize all five of the preceding sounds, bringing them into sharp focus, perhaps for the first time in several years.

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