November–the month of giving thanks. My post this week is early because next Thursday I will be celebrating, like the rest of America, Thanksgiving! Families will gather around tables to converse, spend time together and eat. Some may take naps, watch football, or play games. Lots of turkey will be eaten and plenty of beverages will be consumed. Thanksgiving allows us to stop, quiet ourselves and think about this past year. Thanksgiving allows us to be thankful for the many blessings that have come our way.
My family Thanksgiving is definitely not the above picture. We don’t pull out the best china to have a nice quiet formal meal. Nope, I’m the oldest of 10 children so instead our Thanksgiving meal consists of eating, yelling, arguing, talking, and lots of laughing! I spend time with my siblings and get to see them grow up. I get to see what this past year has brought us all.
As I sit around the table each Thanksgiving, I’m always reminded of my role as an audiologist and I’m very thankful. I allow my patients as they gather with their friends and family, to bond with family members they haven’t seen for a while, to talk to their grandchildren and tell them memories when they were their age, and to laugh at the stories. In the kitchen, bonding over family recipes can occur because my patient can hear and interact. Recipes can be exchanged and passed down to daughters and granddaughters. I look around and realize these are where moments and memories are created.
I want people to be able to partake in these moments by being able to hear. If you or someone you know is having difficulty hearing, they should see an audiologist. Memories can never be restored but hearing can be helped! Laughing at the joke, hearing a grandchild say “I Love You”, and hearing a granddaughter ask for your famous pumpkin pie recipe are moments that should not be missed.