Recently, I have downloaded an app called 1 Second Everyday. It serves as a video diary where one second of footage is meant to be recorded everyday. If put together and played back, it is a vivid experience in the tunnel of ordinary memories that would have been easily forgotten.

Cesar Kuriyama, a co-founder of 1 Second Everyday, remarked in a Ted Talk that this project is a way for him to remember his life and all that he has done instead of having the days and weeks and months blur and blend into each other where most of life is forgotten. I find this to be deeply relatable as I often find my days melding into one another. However, recording a second everyday provides a visualization for my memories that I can preserve and reflect upon. As opposed to social media such as Instagram or Twitter where we only present a glorified version of our days, 1 Second Everyday allows us to take in every mundane moment.

Videos, even just 1 second of video, can be powerful trigger to bring back sudden memories when viewed. This is often because video works with sound as well as picture. Therefore, 1 Second Everyday does serve as a powerful catalyst for remembering all of the days in one’s life, from the most exciting days to even the dull, tiresome and uninteresting days.

Additionally, capturing a day’s event in this way has made me feel more adventurous and present in activities that I’m performing, and I certainly find that to be a good thing as I’m more motivated. I recommend that everybody take on this project and see just how gratifying and reflective it really is.