What if you could relive a single second from each day of your life? Would you choose the big, life-changing moments, or would you find yourself drawn to the small, seemingly inconsequential ones that somehow left an indelible mark on your memory?
In the craziness of our daily lives, it's easy to let these moments slip by unnoticed and unappreciated. We often find ourselves so focused on the destination that we forget to savor the journey. But what if there was a way to capture and hold onto these precious seconds, to weave them into a tapestry of memories that tells the story of our lives?
This is the magic of the 1 Second Everyday (1SE) app, a tool that has transformed how I see and experience the world. I first started using 1SE in 2018, a year of incredible personal growth and adventure. From exploring the vibrant streets of London to building my business in the Philippines, each day brought new challenges and opportunities.
One moment in particular stands out to me now as I look back on my 1SE compilation from that year. It was a humid afternoon in Clark, Philippines, and I was standing in a small, bare room with a handful of cubicles. This was the humble beginning of my call center business in the Philippines, a dream that had taken years of hard work and determination to bring to life. As I watched the workers putting together the desks and chairs, I felt a mix of excitement, nervousness, and pride. I remember thinking to myself, "This is where it all starts. This is the first step in something big."
That one second of footage, a simple pan of the unfinished office space, instantly transports me back to that moment and all the emotions that came with it. It's a reminder of how far I've come, from those small beginnings to the thriving multi-million dollar company with over 1,000 employees that it grew into today. And it's just one of countless moments like it that I would have lost forever if not for this incredible app.
Short History of 1SE
The 1 Second Everyday (1SE) app was created by Cesar Kuriyama, who started recording one second of his life every day as a personal project in 2011. Kuriyama wanted to capture and remember the moments that mattered most, as he felt life was passing by too quickly.
After sharing a video of his year-long project online and receiving an overwhelming response, Kuriyama realized the potential of his idea to help others live more mindfully and appreciatively. In 2013, he launched a Kickstarter campaign to create the 1SE app, which has since been used by millions worldwide.
Kuriyama's motivation for creating 1SE was to provide a tool for mindfulness, gratitude, and reflection – a way to slow down and appreciate the beauty in everyday moments. His vision and passion for helping others capture and cherish life's moments are what makes 1SE so special."
Unrealized Benefits
At first, when I started using the 1SE app, I thought it was just a cool way to capture a video from every day. Like many others, I didn't realize the true power of this simple habit. It's not an easy habit to form, as it's not tied to any particular daily activity. But therein lies the benefit – if you put in the work to establish this habit, it teaches you to look for the extraordinary in the ordinary, the moments in your everyday life.
As you use the app consistently, you start to develop a mental trigger, a little voice in your head that says, "Oh, this is a 1SE moment!" And that's when the magic happens. This simple thought is the incredible power of the 1SE tool because it's training your subconscious to seek out the things in your life that you want to capture, the moments that make you feel grateful and appreciative.
By actively looking for these moments, you start to cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude for the people, experiences, and things that bring joy and meaning to your life. You begin to notice and appreciate the small, fleeting moments that might otherwise pass by unacknowledged – a beautiful sunset, a heartfelt conversation with a friend, a moment of laughter with your family.
This shift in perspective is what makes 1SE so much more than just a video diary app. It's a tool for rewiring your brain to focus on the positive, to find the extraordinary in the ordinary, and to cultivate a profound sense of gratitude for the life you live. And as you continue to use the app and review your second-a-day videos over time, you'll have a powerful visual record of all the moments, big and small, that have shaped your life and brought you joy.
I hope this has inspired you to start your own 1SE journey. My advice is to simply commit to trying it for 30 days. You don't need to pay for the premium version of the app – the free version is all you need to get started. Set a daily reminder on your phone, perhaps at the end of the day, to prompt you to capture a one-second moment. This way, even if you forgot to record something earlier, you still have a chance to capture a meaningful moment from your day.
At the end of those 30 days, take the time to compile your videos and watch the result. I'm willing to bet that you'll be amazed by all the moments you've captured – moments that you otherwise would have forgotten about. Seeing your life unfold in these brief, daily snippets can be a powerful motivation to keep going.
You might be surprised at how quickly this daily practice becomes a cherished habit. The moments you capture don't have to be grand or extraordinary – often, it's the simple, everyday experiences that end up being the most meaningful when you look back on them.
So why not give it a try? Commit to 30 days of 1SE, and see for yourself how this simple habit can transform your perspective and deepen your appreciation for the life you live. You have nothing to lose and a lifetime of memories and gratitude to gain.
