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
587 public letters恭喜成年啦，未来的在下
至五年后的我生日快乐，成年快乐！你现在过得怎么样啊，虽然我也可能在这之前就死了呀五年后，，这个时间应该是在上高中？我这种垃圾考得上高中吗？噗叽会画画了吗？有小粉丝了吗?有喜欢的人了吗？有被谁所爱着吗？如果有女孩子向我告白，请务必答应啊，因为这年头瞎眼的人不多见了啊=w=如果拒绝了，万一单身一辈子怎么
蚊子
Dec 18, 2016 · Traveled 4 years 1 month
Photo letter
祝你生日快乐
祝： 生日快乐
零露
Jan 8, 2017 · Traveled 8 months 23 days
写给你的23岁
你一心情不好就会写文，最近的我心情不是太好。不过今天是你的生日。想要你快快乐乐，开开心心的。希望你已经把该忘记的人都忘记了。更希望你已经开始了新的恋情。因为现在这个时候的你，真的不太好过。哈哈哈下周就要回家了。本来要说20多号结婚的舍友，又不结了。不敢问她为什么。你原本是打算明年，就去成都的，但是这
零露
Jan 8, 2017 · Traveled 11 months 1 day
生日快乐——by琉璃薇薇
陪了你五年的时光，很多用心的礼物，如今只能说一句“生日快乐”了
琉璃
Feb 1, 2017 · Traveled 7 months 18 days
谢谢你，张明浩。陪你走到这。
想写这封时光信很久了，一直拖着没有写，今天告诉自己说一定要写完，把想说的话一定诉说完。为了不让以后的自己后悔！ 你收到这封信的时候是你22岁生日，虽然不知道这封信你会不会看到。首先祝你22岁生日快乐！
笑忘过后xi
Feb 2, 2017 · Traveled 5 months 14 days
十八岁的约定
和阿平的十八岁的约定go to Thailand
鉦Zz
Feb 3, 2017 · Traveled 1 year 10 months
Photo letter
for future xinky part.32
第三十二天，修仙修仙，我们的目标是没有蛀牙233祝我生日快乐，感谢所有祝福我的人嘿嘿嘿(º﹃º )3.17 23:28
过去的星奇
Mar 21, 2017 · Traveled 4 months 1 day
祝五年后的自己生日快乐
致五年后的自己： 生日快乐！ 现在是2017年3月24日10:00，想象五年后的自己，是件有趣又让人期待的事。不知道收到信的时候，我过的日子是否和我想象的一样。 五年后，儿子十岁，我四十岁，我应该和先生儿子住在三里河了，儿子已经三年级啦！好期待，他现在还是大拐棒幼儿园小二班的学生呢。现在是爷爷和爸爸
n1971
Mar 24, 2017 · Traveled 5 years 7 months
Photo letter
给未来的你
现在的你过的怎么样？烦恼多吗？首先祝你生日快乐18岁你肯定很开心吧？身边朋友对你怎么样？我现在过得很不好，感觉快要得自闭症了一样。你现在还觉得同龄人像小孩不懂事吗？对朋友固然要好，不过你记得不要什么都全心全意掏心掏肺这样到时候闹翻了她出去乱说什么的，我真羡慕你，你还能活下去，幸好我没去自杀。你才能留
Nice343
Mar 30, 2017 · Traveled 2 years 2 months
Photo letter
李数，生日快乐
生日快乐，加油！我爱你！❤️
n2037
May 1, 2017 · Traveled 28 days
Photo letter
生日快乐
生日快乐！！！！！！！！！！！！！！都过了2个月才写这封信，哎。。越来越懒惰了，好习惯呢？梦想呢？ 这一年经历是很丰富的，换了个公司，开头是美好的，也确实很努力，也确实很受器重，可以说天时地利人和，可惜最后功亏于溃。 从技术开始转型做产品，路途还很长 有时候也有点泄气，不知所措；到底要怎样做；只想简
我的世界
Jun 1, 2017 · Traveled 9 months 29 days
写给未来的…
小芳： 在过十八天了，我祝你生日快乐，可能现在你正在学校读书看不到，但我还是祝你生日快乐，虽然没有蛋糕，没有礼物。但是，我以后肯定给你补回来，想吃多少块都行。 这么多年，也没人给你过过生日，没人给你唱过生日歌，今天，我来给你唱： 祝你生日快乐，祝你生日快乐，祝你生日快乐，祝你生日快乐。祝你13岁生日
n2141
Jun 25, 2017 · Traveled 3 months
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