On Your Birthday, Write to Next Year's You
Past a certain age, birthdays get quiet. The cake shrinks, the wishes get practical, and even "happy birthday to me" starts to feel like a formality. But your birthday is still the best day of the year for a conversation with yourself — it's the one milestone that belongs to you alone. More and more people mark it the same way: write a letter to next year's you. What did this year of your life add up to? What did you pull off, what did you fumble, what are you wishing for? Seal it, schedule it for your next birthday, and every year you'll receive a letter from the person you were — a relay race run one year at a time, each age handing off to the next. Keep it up and the letters become a private chronicle only you can fully read; one writer went from twenty to thirty, and those ten letters side by side are more honest than any photo album. Below are birthday letters people chose to share. This year, after the candles, do one more thing: leave a few lines for the you of next year.
Ideas to get you started
- Take stock of the year: one thing you're proud of, one regret, one person you're most grateful for. Those three lines are a snapshot of who you are at this age.
- Make three wishes in writing — one for work, one for the people you love, one just for you. Score yourself when you open it next year.
- Record your current baseline: where you live, who you see most, what's worrying you lately. The changes will surprise you in twelve months.
- Schedule delivery for your next birthday and make it an annual ritual. Delivery within a year is free.
Real letters from the vault
636 public letters
Photo letter
写给30岁的宝贝
亲爱的宝贝： 希望你还在用这个邮箱 我知道我肯定不能陪你过到现在，希望现在的你，身边有一个你很爱的，也很爱你的人，陪着你度过一天又一天； 我们分手后，不可能再见面了，也可能不会再联系了，可我心中一直都有很多话跟你说，只能想到这个办法，寄给未来放下了我的你 过了今天，我们都迈入了30岁的年纪，现在的你
黑陶与普洱
May 27, 2015 · Traveled 2 years 7 months
生日快乐
首先祝你生日快乐，又长大一岁。现在我过的很坎坷，你过得好吗？你重新回到正轨了吗？你是否忘记了自己的梦想？你在当前的工作生活中看到实现理想的希望了吗？ 我只希望你现在过得开心，能独当一面，生活有希望，是在实现自己梦想的道路上。 最后八卦一句，有女朋友了吗？happy birthday to you，想
我的世界
May 31, 2015 · Traveled 9 months 28 days
亲爱的老公 生日快乐
亲爱的哥哥 这是我偶然间发现的时光信箱 我在一年前为你许下的生日祝福 。现在是2015年五月的最后一天 我们还是异地 希望明年的我们 已经结束异地 哥哥我爱你 我会一直爱你 直到我们一起老去生日快乐 我的宝贝☺
雪雪
May 31, 2015 · Traveled 1 year 4 months
给我很爱的姑娘
傻妞，现在的你在干什么呢，马上就是你的生日了吧，希望我没有记错。你知道的，我时间观念比较淡。不知道现在咱们都怎么样了，我有没有成功的把你推倒呢，哦，应该是成功的法办了你呢，如果是的，那我会继续爱你，比以前更爱的和你一辈子，如果还没有，那我只能先伤心一会了，未来的路，太长了，真害怕承诺说出口就变成了谎
夕阳一起吃饭
Jun 3, 2015 · Traveled 4 months 22 days
Dear MM，
be different.be yourself.dare to be alone.do what you love.be focused.read.smile more often.Done is better than perfect.奔三~\(≧▽≦)/~啦啦啦 哥哥生日快乐(づ￣3￣)づ╭❤
n829
Jun 10, 2015 · Traveled 7 years 2 months
happy bday 麦麦
今天六月十二号，马上就到你的生日啦！生日快乐哦！生病那次再见到你以后就一直很想陪你过生日，因为我们已经错过我的生日啦，所以就很不想再错过你的。你记不记得我说过觉得认识你太晚，错过了好多。 不光想喜欢现在的你，更想喜欢以前的你。想知道你是怎么成熟起来，经历了什么辛苦，什么伤心，才变成现在的你，你所经历
張妤潔
Jun 12, 2015 · Traveled 1 month 9 days
写给今天最帅的Michael！
今天六月十二号，生病那次再见到你以后就一直很想陪你过生日，因为我们已经错过我的生日啦，所以就很不想再错过你的。你记不记得我说过觉得认识你太晚，错过了好多。 不光想喜欢现在的你，更想喜欢以前的你。想知道你是怎么成熟起来，经历了什么辛苦，什么伤心，才变成现在的你，你所经历的那些，我都很想陪你。生日快乐！
張妤潔
Jun 12, 2015 · Traveled 1 month 9 days
写给今天最帅的Michael！
生病那次再见到你以后就一直很想陪你过生日，因为我们已经错过我的生日啦，所以就很不想再错过你的。你记不记得我说过觉得认识你太晚，错过了好多。 不光想喜欢现在的你，更想喜欢以前的你。想知道你是怎么成熟起来，经历了什么辛苦，什么伤心，才变成现在的你，你所经历的那些，我都很想陪你。生日快乐！ 希望今天的你是
張妤潔
Jun 12, 2015 · Traveled 1 month 8 days
给40岁的你
四十岁快乐啊 40岁的陈同志 当你看到我写的信的时候 应该已经大腹便便了吧
手机用户1772640012
Jun 14, 2015 · Will travel 15 years
Photo letter
给亲爱的老公
亲爱的老公： 生日快乐！ 老公，我想告诉你，认识你是我这辈子最幸福的事。我爱你，好爱，好爱…… 老公，谢谢你那么爱我，包容我。我知道，我脾气不好，爱耍小性子，没耐性，还爱哭，我向你保证在这两年我会尽量改掉这些臭毛病，我会努力做一个好妻子 老公，我们不要吵架好不好，虽然没见过夫妻不吵架的。就算吵架了，
chuyangyang
Jun 18, 2015 · Traveled 1 year 7 months
写给未来的你
今天是你的生日，在这对你说声生日快乐！不知道现在的你过的还好吗？ 2015.6.25 罗中钊今天刚好是大二的最后一天，也可以说是我们大学生涯的最后一天，希望你在以后的日子里，能微笑的度过！
世界那么脏
Jun 25, 2015 · Traveled 1 year 1 month
亲 生日快乐
Happy Birthday MUZILI My love is Always in;Good morning Miss Li ----- Mr.Kimw 我最亲爱的老婆： 10月5日，世界上任何人可以忘记，但唯独对我来说是永远不会忘记的。 如果没记错的话2011年的夏季认识的你，那时的我们尚未相识
MUZILI
Jun 28, 2015 · Traveled 3 months 7 days
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to write it on the birthday itself?
No — a few days before or after is fine. What matters is the delivery date: set it to next year's birthday, and the arrival becomes the ritual.
Is this only for writing to myself?
Not at all. Plenty of people write to a friend or partner ahead of time, scheduled to land on that person's birthday — a gift that was prepared with a whole year to spare.
What if I forget to write the next one?
The best moment to write next year's letter is right after opening this year's — the feelings are still warm. That's exactly how long-time users keep the chain going.
On Your Birthday, Write to Next Year's You
Write yours