Sweet times

Celebrations of Christmas, New Year, dinners of friends or business entail a preparation that often makes lose the horizon of what it really means to "celebrate with family or with friends" as the frantic search for gifts begins, often unpayable , the search for the best decorations, the best food, the best of everything. We ourselves or social pressure tells us that less than perfect is not acceptable. They have to be the best gifts, the best food, even the best tablecloth on the table so that nobody can say that we don't care enough about our family, all focused on a materialistic world that consumes itself with its own consumption, away from the inner and immaterial happiness that means being surrounded by yours.

If you want happiness this Christmas, it is enough to meet with your loved ones and enjoy, of course some taste and a gift for the little ones or some detail made by yourself can be done, but as long as you are born and it is not an obligation or commitment, try to elaborate at home the delicacies, to make more handmade gifts, give time to your loved ones, it is a very appreciated and economic present, unique and of spiritual connotation, with the purpose of delivering our Christmas love to others from our love own.

Why not:
• Give love and positive feelings: smiles, encouragement and affection
• Give time and share moments

One of the fundamental purposes of Christmas is to thank. Expressing our gratitude to our loved ones and to life itself is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves.

Christmas unfortunately is usually governed mainly by appearances. Which neighborhood house has more lights and decorations on to get attention? If it is not ours, we will buy more lights that please shine a lot, have music and change color every 10 seconds. The great urban roads or axes compete with so much lighting and decorations, it must be said that it is beautiful, and that energy saving measures have been taken in this regard, but it seems contradictory that the energy wastage against which we fight on a day-to-day basis is allowed by piece on these dates.

At work or with friends, you usually comment on what gifts are on the list, and you get to show off the things that will be given to your child and family, etc. There is also the traditional invisible or secret friend from whom you often can not escape since it is usually a commitment, as well as the expensive end-of-year dinners of your company or that of your partner, which were previously paid by the bosses, which no longer happens very often, everything is focused so that your pocket suffers more than enjoy it, with consumerist wastes that bring only a fleeting sensation, similar to happiness and that instead entail high environmental and social costs.

When making your Christmas purchases keep in mind, as far as possible, the following recommendations:
• Try to consume less, try to free yourself from needs, you will feel calmer and your economy will not be very affected.
• When you buy, take your own cloth bag, so you don't fill up with bags.
• Think about the product production process (manufacturer, place of production, labor rights, raw materials, transport, waste, etc.) and consider more sustainable, economic, social and environmental alternatives.
• Avoid multinationals, large chains, large surfaces ... accumulate power and wealth and promote excessive consumption. Find small businesses with alternatives and originals
• Pay in cash, avoid commissions and favor the merchant (2% of the card payment goes to the bank as commission).
• Recycle or donate toys or clothes, spend some time to participate in solidarity in one of the campaigns that are carried out on these dates. You will get a smile from more than one.