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Something To Holler About

Compensatory Senses

©Vicki France, Big Stock Photo

Anyone with a hearing loss knows how tiring it can be to listen all day. We often depend on sight and other sensory cues to make up for what our ears can't do very well, and those demands on our bodies can be exhausting as well.

Give your whole being a renaissance with the ideas below for rejuvenating and energizing your everyday life and your home, sense by sense!

Touch:

• Nothing beats a massage for de-stressing! While professional bodywork feels amazing, it can also be expensive. You can self-massage many areas of your body, or ask your partner to gently work on your trouble spots. Massage oils are widely available at bath stores, pharmacies, and even some supermarkets.
• Wear soft, comfy clothes to help you relax. Warm slippers and snuggly robes are great for cooler weather.
• Curl up on the couch in a fleece throw.
• Enjoy the warm feelings that come from petting your cat or dog.
• Dissolve bath salts in a tub of warm water, and enjoy a good long soak...even better by candle light!
  

© Eric Hatchell,Big Stock Photo

Taste:

• Liven up your brown-bag lunches with homemade Mexican- or Asian-inspired dishes, instead of the same old sandwiches. Cookbooks are available at every library, and many recipes are also available on the Internet--try the Food Network as a starting point.
• Each time you go grocery shopping, buy one new food that you have never tried before.
• Try combining two soups that you have on hand, such as tomato and chicken with rice. Serve with a slice of cheese and a hunk of artisan bread for a simple and yummy dinner. You can also try mixing up breakfast cereals for variety--basic corn flakes go with just about everything.
• Plan a meal with several different-textured foods to enjoy, such as a salad with soft spinach, crunchy walnuts, nubbly blue cheese, and chewy cranberries.
• Add cinnamon to hot chocolate, oatmeal, or buttered toast for a little zip. Experiment with adding spices and herbs to foods you eat all the time.

© Chris Dortch,Big Stock Photo

Sight:

• Think color! Buy inexpensive and unique coffee mugs at a dollar store or a neighborhood garage sale to wake up your kitchen. Bright placemats and dish towels are also room-brighteners.
• Always wear black or beige? Break out of the mold, and don a scarlet scarf, a fucshia fedora, or a turquoise t-shirt. Have some fun with your wardrobe!
• Paint walls a soothing color, such as light blue or sunny yellow.
• Hang vibrant posters on plain walls, or in your cube at work.
• Get a bunch of silk flowers from a discount store, and put them in a vase or an old jar for some no-maintenance prettiness inside as the skies get grayer outside.

© Gina Smith,Big Stock Photo

Smell:

• Simmer a few cinnamon sticks in a saucepan of water to perfume your home with this quintessential autumn scent.
• As long as you're not sensitive to fragrances, experiment with a new perfume. Many cosmetic counters offer free samples.
• Use aromatherapy candles or incense to create a calming home environment...remember to never leave anything unattended that you have burning!
• Grind up citrus peels and rinds in the garbage disposal for a natural deodorizing effect.
• Make a list of your favorite scents, and find ways to incorporate them into your life--if you love pine, for instance, go for a walk in a park. Crazy about lemon? Grate a little lemon peel onto broiled chicken for a treat at dinner.

© Ira Struebel,Big Stock Photo

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Read previous Something To Holler About articles in the Archives

Coming soon in Something To Holler About:

• The lowdown on high-tech hearing aids
• Continuing education and professional development with a hearing loss
• A story of standing up to institutional discrimination