Ted Memory Project
Memories make us who we are; they form our identity and tell a personal and collective story. Many people, however, suffer from degenerative illnesses like Alzheimer's disease that put their memories at risk. Images fade. A sense of being is lost.
Join TED and Lilly in preserving our most cherished memories, and add yours to our collective album.
The memories that shape us could be big or small. When you think about a memory you want to preserve, what feeling does that memory evoke?
Adventure 
Calmness 
Community 
Confidence 
Connection 
Excitement 
Security Here’s a sneak peek of the album filled with 288 memories from people around the world.
Calmness 
Heather, age 5:
Being with my Grandmother growing up was the best! Whether we were in Georgia or Guyana, time with her was always magical to me! From homemade orange juice, to her Guyanese baked and buttered bread and her beautiful gardens of flowers and veggies - she did everything with LOVE.
Memory of Calmness N.37
Community 
Max, age 33:
Being together in experience around performance is my community. I’ll never forget the ingenuity and collective efforts we went through to make a drive-in theatre dUring COVID. The creative air around that event will never happen again - that is a memory worth cherishing.
Memory of Community N.31
Adventure 
Lanie , age 23:
Visiting a coastal town in Spain with my best friend and night swimming, meeting new people, and dancing all night long is an important memory for me because it made me feel alive, at peace, and so grateful for our friendship.
Memory of Adventure N.45
Security 
Sitting on the bathroom floor with my sister and my mom.
Memory of Security N.18
Connection 
Spending quality time with loved ones
Memory of Connection N.48
Community
Coming together as a community to eat,share story and celebrate is important for collective health and wellbeing
Memory of Community N.30
Connection 
DB, age 8:
I was incredibly shy as a child but when i went away to summer camp i became very close friends with a new person - a friend i made on my own (not because she lived next door or was introduced by my parents and it broke me out of my shell and paved the way for future friendships.
Memory of Connection N.47
Adventure 
Samantha, age 29:
Family trip tp Czech Republic and Ireland, with no plans and a lot of curiosity.
Memory of Adventure N.44
Calmness Ragini kaur, age 27:
Serenity calmness stillness me with me
Memory of Calmness N.36
Adventure Stephen, age 45:
An amazing trip we took to Jamaica and my first time presenting on the TED Stage!!
Memory of Adventure N.54
Calmness Heather, age 5:
Being with my Grandmother growing up was the best! Whether we were in Georgia or Guyana, time with her was always magical to me! From homemade orange juice, to her Guyanese baked and buttered bread and her beautiful gardens of flowers and veggies - she did everything with LOVE.
Memory of Calmness N.37
Community Max, age 33:
Being together in experience around performance is my community. I’ll never forget the ingenuity and collective efforts we went through to make a drive-in theatre dUring COVID. The creative air around that event will never happen again - that is a memory worth cherishing.
Memory of Community N.31
Adventure Lanie , age 23:
Visiting a coastal town in Spain with my best friend and night swimming, meeting new people, and dancing all night long is an important memory for me because it made me feel alive, at peace, and so grateful for our friendship.
Memory of Adventure N.45
Security
Sitting on the bathroom floor with my sister and my mom.
Memory of Security N.18
Connection
Spending quality time with loved ones
Memory of Connection N.48
Community
Coming together as a community to eat,share story and celebrate is important for collective health and wellbeing
Memory of Community N.30
Connection DB, age 8:
I was incredibly shy as a child but when i went away to summer camp i became very close friends with a new person - a friend i made on my own (not because she lived next door or was introduced by my parents and it broke me out of my shell and paved the way for future friendships.
Memory of Connection N.47
Adventure Samantha, age 29:
Family trip tp Czech Republic and Ireland, with no plans and a lot of curiosity.
Memory of Adventure N.44
Calmness Ragini kaur, age 27:
Serenity calmness stillness me with me
Memory of Calmness N.36
Adventure Stephen, age 45:
An amazing trip we took to Jamaica and my first time presenting on the TED Stage!!
Memory of Adventure N.54
More than memories
The original video series The Memories That Make Us features three TED speakers sharing personal memories that shaped their lives and identities. Watch as filmmaker Jon M. Chu, baker Christina Tosi and restauranteur Will Guidara take us on an emotional journey highlighting the power of memory and the importance of human connections.
Identity and belonging: The Memories That Make Us
Jon M. Chu, Acclaimed Film Director
Jon M. Chu recalls his early childhood experience of filming and editing home movies of his family, a pivotal time that would influence his work on later films like Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights.
Breaking the rules: The Memories That Make Us
Christina Tosi, Award-Winning Chef & CEO of Milk Bar
Christina Tosi remembers how a seemingly ordinary car ride with her mom and sister inspired the launch of her unconventional dessert empire, Milk Bar — and guides her search for joyful, rule-breaking moments with her two children.
The power of hospitality: The Memories That Make Us
Will Guidara, Restaurateur and Author
Will Guidara reflects on how a magical evening at a New York City restaurant taught him the power of hospitality, shaping a career centered on giving people extraordinary experiences.