Recently, I went on a little excursion with my best friend. I had found an event on Facebook called “Caroling at Cloud Gate with Broadway in Chicago.” I got really excited because I love Broadway, and musicals, and it just sounded like a really cool experience. So, we hopped a train to Chicago, and headed for Millenium park. As many times as I’ve been to the city, I’ve never really seen it at Christmas time, so I was really excited, because I absolutely love Christmas decorations!

The sights of the city were so pretty on a cold night in December, and as we approached Millenium park it started to lightly snow. After taking a few pictures by the Bean, we acquired some standing room and anticipated the caroling. The choir was made up of student participants of the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards, and a few actors from Chicago’s Broadway shows, such as “Beautiful,” “Wicked,” and “Hamilton.”

After we had sang a few carols, I stopped and looked around. I took in the moment. I looked around at all the people who had come together to sing carols. The snow was lightly falling, and the lights from the city skyscrapers were being reflected in the Bean. I was standing next to my best friend who means the world to me, and it felt like the perfect moment. This may sound cheesy, but I felt like I was in a Hallmark movie.

Life doesn’t give us many moments like this, and it’s important to recognize them, and snatch them up when we can. Life isn’t a Hallmark movie, and not every moment is going to be a perfect one. Even if every moment was perfect, that would mean that none of them actually are. Those moments are special, and ones that we remember.

I’m sure this holiday season will be filled with many special or perfect moments for many of us, as we spend time with our families, give gifts, make cookies, and do other Christmas-y things. Sure, this can also be a stressful time of year; sometimes families stir up drama, people rush to get all their shopping done, all the cookies baked, and everything to be just right for Christmas. But in the midst of it all, we should try and take two seconds to recognize one of these moments when we come across them, because these moments turn into memories, and memories last a lifetime.