We often complain that time is passing too fast, that we can never grasp it, and before we know it, it's the next day, the next week, the next year. This discussion of time and its fleeting nature has become a big trend on many social media platforms. With many people questioning whether time is real or just a concept, and how we can ultimately slow it down. Well, one girl on TikTok who goes by the name Tamara decided that she wants to be more conscious of time. She decided that, to visualise the concept of time, she would collect 365 buttons, one for every day of the year. By buying one physical button for each day, we might be able to visualise the days as they pass, helping us realise how much time has passed and how much time we have left. A purposeful practice made to appreciate the passage of time and its scarcity. At least that’s what we assume she meant…

It all started with the user @abbiekeeler088 posting about her serious rebrand for 2026. Under that video, Tamara decided to comment that she will be collecting 365 buttons, as “she wants to do more stuff and is scared of time so wants to be more conscious of it” 

Many questioned Tamara and her 365 buttons, “What will she do with 365 buttons?” Tamara then replied, saying she doesn’t know what she will use the buttons for, just that she will have one for each day. People pressed for a response, but she didn’t feel the need to explain herself, which is where the famous 

“Hey so it only has to make sense to me to do it, and I don’t feel like explaining it to anyone else” iconically became one of the first memes of 2026. 

Although yes, this is just a silly comment chain on TikTok, and Tamara just wanted to be left alone with her 365 buttons, her quote digs a little deeper: why do we feel like everyone owes us an explanation for what they are doing and why? The truth is, they don’t, no one owes us anything, and we don’t owe anyone anything. So often, we are afraid to do the things we love, out of fear of judgment and of being different from others. But we shouldn't have to explain ourselves to others just to do what we want; it should simply make sense to us. No matter how serious or unserious, big or small, the thing could be, as long as it makes some sense to us, that is all that counts! 

It is kind of special that the first meme of 2026 is about doing things just cause, just to try, just cause you want to. A beautiful intention for the start of the year. This meme has sparked something else, too: a ton of button crafts! So if anyone is thinking of joining in on the fun of collecting 365 buttons, here are some of my favourites:

1. Button Hair Clips

Grab some buttons and hair clips, use a strong adhesive like hot glue to glue the buttons to the clips, and you're done!

2. Button bouquet

Thread some thin wire through the buttonholes, twist it to secure in place with pliers, and cut the wire to your desired length. Make multiple of these to have a bouquet!

3. Button bookmark 

This one is in the same fashion as the first one: glue a button to a paperclip, and you're done. That's literally it.

4. Add buttons to literally everything: 

Put buttons on your shirts, jeans, blouses, sweaters, whatever works. 

Hopefully, this year we all try something just cause, without the need to explain ourselves. Hopefully, Tamara’s pockets don’t hurt from carrying those buttons around all year. Or maybe her true intention was to use the buttons to weight train - the beauty is we’ll never know!

Gabriela is a third-year student studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science majoring in Neuroscience. She loves to challenge herself, and write about the things that cloud her thoughts. She is also curious about the world around her, and hopes to learn a bit more every day.