By John Amato
As we begin another holiday season, the pace of life changes from one of normalcy to that of abnormalcy, with shopping malls becoming jammed with frenzied shoppers looking for all those wonderful items for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
While it is usually a hectic time of the year, we should really try to take some time out for ourselves and reflect on what this time of year truly means. All three holidays are holidays of reflection and being thankful for the things that we have in our lives: family, friends, good health and cheer.
We should remember all those people during this beautiful time of the year who are less fortunate than us — the homeless, physically disabled and mentally ill — and try to help them out via monetary donations to the various organizations that support the less fortunate.
We should also remember our first responders — our police officers, firefighters, EMS workers — as well as doctors, nurses and our emergency 311 and 911 operators, and be most grateful for their dedication and the hard work that they do each and every day to help us.
Let us also remember our nation, the most wonderful place to live in the entire world, because we have many freedoms here that people in some other countries do not.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and peace and goodwill to everybody this holiday season.
John Amato
Fresh Meadows
