“Call it the Christmas Conundrum. We are supposed to revel in gift-giving and generosity, yet the season’s lavishness and commercialization leave many people cold. The underlying contradiction runs throughout modern life. On one hand, we naturally seek and rejoice in prosperity. On the other hand, success in this endeavor is often marred by a materialism we find repellent and alienating… So here is my central claim: The frustration and emptiness so many people feel at this time of year is not an objection to the abundance per se... It is a healthy hunger for nonattachment…” ~ Arthur C. Brooks