As each year draws to a close, I reflect on my resolutions. Next year, I want to be more honest, stop procrastinating, and most importantly, be fully present.

My resolution to embrace the moment arose during a volunteer shift at the Kohl Children’s Museum, when I witnessed a father repeatedly interrupt hisdaughter’s playtime to take her picture. Whenever she looked away, he snapped his fingers, demanding her attention for another photo. Her discomfort was apparent. While other children were immersed in exploration, she was trapped in a cycle of posing and performing. After taking hundreds of photos, her father finally left her alone. 

I felt sorry for the little girl. But as I reflected, I realized I’m just as guilty as her father. 

Whether out with friends or while traveling, I’ve been obsessed with capturing moments, convinced that the experience didn’t count if I didn’t take a picture of it. My camera roll is filled with photos of moments I’ve forgotten. In my rush to capture the moment instead of being present, I set myself up to forget the experience.

We often get so caught up in taking the perfect shot that we forget what matters and that the more we chase perfection, the less we truly experience.Instead of living for ourselves, we perform for the camera.

As the holidays approach, many of us feel pressured to document festive events and family gatherings. Social media has taught us that the picture we post matters more than the experience. But the truth is, no photo tells the full story. 

I wish that father at the museum understood the value of putting down his camera, even for a moment. The memories his daughter would’ve created by exploring, laughing and engaging freely would’ve been far richer than the pictures he took. Those moments, raw, spontaneous and unfiltered, are far more precious than any photograph. They can’t be staged, only felt.

This season, instead of reaching for your phone at every gathering, consider putting it away or limiting yourself to just a photo or two. Engage with the people you love and store the memories in your heart, not your camera roll. Life doesn’t need to be curated. It simply needs to be lived.