Hello friends of Project HOPE, I hope you are all well. You may have noticed that the holidays are arriving, and with them, that feeling that the world is paused to celebrate. However, today I want to talk about something that, although always present, sometimes goes unnoticed: Christmas and the spending culture that surrounds it. For years now, this time has become a perfect excuse for large companies to sell us the idea that we "need" to buy more. Offers, discounts, commercials that appeal to nostalgia and family love, all designed so that money leaves our pockets almost without us realizing it. Who hasn't felt that pressure to buy the perfect gift, decorate the house like in the magazines or fill the table with dishes worthy of a royal banquet? https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2021/01/09/09/15/money-5901808_1280.jpg _{[Source](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/dinero-dolares-mano-gastos-5901808/)}

But is this really Christmas? I dare to think not, or at least it shouldn't be. Christmas doesn't have to mean going into debt or spending more than we can, even though that's what we've been led to believe. Behind this tradition is the true value of sharing, of being with loved ones and of being grateful for what we have. It's funny how, in the attempt to "comply" with what society dictates to us, we often lose the most important thing: time and connection with our loved ones. I don't want to sound moralistic, but what good is the most expensive gift if it is not accompanied by a sincere hug or a conversation that brings us closer? Marketing knows how to trap us, I admit. They tell you that if you don't buy, you're not celebrating. But I think we have all felt that the happiest moments of these dates do not come wrapped in shiny paper. They are in the laughter, in the long talks, in remembering special moments together. https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2019/12/06/19/06/gifts-4678018_1280.jpg _{[Source](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/regalos-sorpresa-hecho-navidad-4678018/)}

I'm not saying that we don't spend anything, of course. It's nice to give and receive details, but maybe we should think more about what we want to give: something material or something that really matters? Sometimes a letter, a gesture, or even quality time is worth more than any object. So, while the world pushes us to spend, let's think for a moment about what we really want from this Christmas. Maybe, and just maybe, what we are looking for is not in the stores, but within reach of a hug or a good conversation. Greetings and have a happy holiday, full of what really matters.

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