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
SuperDan
亲爱的自己，当你看见这封信，先给你说一声 生日快乐呀 30岁的你！今天是2018年1月2日，距离生日过了一天。人生第一个20年啊20的生日感觉自己成长了很多，少了任性，少了期待，多了一丝理性。本来计划的很满很好，吃个凌晨的饭，唱个通宵的歌，在凌晨的时候给自己唱一首生日快乐，以及许一个新年愿望生日愿望
jangkeunsuk93
Jan 3, 2018 · Will travel 9 years 11 months
寄给18岁的邓梦英的一封信
18岁的邓梦英你好： 自我介绍一下，我是13岁的邓梦英，现在在上海合庆中学读初二，有三个很好的闺蜜，卓娉琳，于路瑶，吕喜玉，我有157cm（不到），53kg. 不出意外，你现在应该将要面临最重要的高考了吧，运气好点，就应该在读大一了，或者，已经出来工作了，你应该也和我一样很胖吧，很矮，肯定也是个单身
钟意
Jan 13, 2018 · Traveled 4 years 7 months
Photo letter
寄给18岁的邓梦英的一封信
18岁的邓梦英你好： 自我介绍一下，我是13岁的邓梦英，现在在上海合庆中学读初二，有三个很好的闺蜜，卓娉琳，于路瑶，吕喜玉，我有157cm（不到），53kg. 不出意外，你现在应该将要面临最重要的高考了吧，运气好点，就应该在读大一了，或者，已经出来工作了，你应该也和我一样很胖吧，很矮，肯定也是个单身
钟意
Jan 13, 2018 · Traveled 4 years 7 months
生日快乐 十六岁
考到哪啦 自己满意吗？ 满意就好了啦还追星吗 瘦了没啊？？哈哈哈努力加油！吴欣桐加油！ 为自己创造未来！
n1684
Jan 28, 2018 · Traveled 11 months 17 days
Photo letter
容江劲32岁生日快乐！
亲爱的容江劲： 32岁生日快乐！今天是周日哎！不知道你是想在亲人好友的簇拥下过完今天的生日，还是只想自己一个人度过，安静地回首人生走过的路。 回首之余，你会对20多岁的光阴产生浓烈的后悔之情吗？？？ 我刚刚读了艾力酷艾英语公众号的一篇推送，说，人们总是会对过去的岁月有遗憾的想法，而20多岁是最容易产
Xiong
Mar 2, 2018 · Will travel 10 years 6 months
写给未来的…
你好啊，现在是2018年3月2号下午16:51分，我又心血来潮写了封信给自己。。。再过10天就是今年生日了，肯定是没什么人记得啦。不知道两年后的你是怎么样的，学会了更多东西吗，驾照考了吗，有新朋友了吗，考到什么学校了呢，和群里的人还有联系吗，还是就此逐渐淡出他们的生活，究竟选了什么专业呢，对未来有信
XUback
Mar 2, 2018 · Traveled 2 years
生日快乐
哈哈哈，今天是3.23，我要祝大半年后的你生日快乐～老公，你今天跟我说晚安我都没搭理你，你肯定想不到我在给你写信，你肯定又说那么多呢我想跟你说的是，这一年你辛苦了～26岁的你辛苦了，27岁加油
付丹丹
Mar 23, 2018 · Traveled 9 months 18 days
Photo letter
生日快乐猪！
希望不久之后我们不再犹豫，希望一年之后我能跟你一起看到这封信，希望今后的我们幸福快乐，希望我能一辈子都把你照顾好。
谈猪猪的猪
Mar 26, 2018 · Traveled 11 months 5 days
嘿！小伙砸又是我！
嘿！小伙砸！没错又是我，确定不走单招走高考的你不知道这个决定会不会改变以后我的生活但有moniter陪着你，你还害怕什么不管你们最后结果如何，也不知道你八月有没有告诉他，你埋藏在内心的 秘密为了自己努努力吧！！总觉得小时候的自己比长大了的自己更懂得自己的需求现在的自己还怎么跟你说我的理想。要说，可能
心里住了朵云
Apr 1, 2018 · Traveled 8 months
林晗！
生日快乐！我是林晗，2018/4/13的金彤。我写这封信，想鼓励自己啊 初三的寒假真的很可怕呢 是不是被繁重的学业压倒了呢？你还有在画画吗？好像知道我是不是进步很大啊……算了 你要认真学习！你一模考完了吧？希望不要太差……！！！！我现在很努力，快要期中考试了，我成绩感觉不行，这几天都是特别累（没你累
林晗_ikun
Apr 13, 2018 · Traveled 9 months 29 days
写给二十八岁的你
二十八岁，生日快乐。 我想知道那时你在干什么，你是一个老师，一个医生，还是在做自己喜欢的事？十六岁的你只想努力赚钱，离开你的家乡，现在你在哪里呢？
日光为暖夏亦凉
Apr 22, 2018 · Will travel 12 years 5 months
100天后的nandy
100天后的huang nandy呀~不知道你过得怎么样，希望你能顺利的通过各种考试，四级还有专升本，学架子鼓学得怎么样了~这个暑假有没有钢琴考级呀~你的薄荷阅读是有坚持下来吧100天后的你应该已经瘦下来没有100斤了吧，毕竟哈哈哈哈哈你可是许诺暑假没有90几斤要请陈坤琦她们吃饭的人。是真的希望能够
n2841
Apr 25, 2018 · Traveled 3 months 16 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
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