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李嘉宾你还好吗
李嘉宾，你还好吗？我是吴昱萤，这封信是我在18年11月7日写给你的。不知道现在咱俩还在一起吗，但我想应该是的，万一，不幸的，你我分手了，恰好你又有了新的女朋友，我先说对不起打扰你了。今天是你的生日，先祝你生日快乐，希望你天天开心。现在的临汾很冷，我刚洗完澡，脚脚凉，你在我旁边，我肯定会插在你的腿里，
n3612
Nov 7, 2018 · Traveled 8 months 3 days
Photo letter
写给30岁的小狐狸
30岁的你，生日快乐。这个生日，谁和你一起过的呢？还好吗？有没有变得很老了？有没有再遇到爱的人呢？还是扛不住压力找了个男人随便就嫁了呢？说好的要买房子呢？你房子买到了吗？还没买？真鄙视你。如果感情和经济条件还是和现在一样一样的，那你这两年真是白活了。工作呢？有没有离开上海？现在的你在哪里呢？你有没有
小妖Flora
Nov 9, 2018 · Traveled 1 year 5 months
我的50岁
从今天起，努力准备自己的50岁生日礼物:1.能讲流利的英语，能自如的翻阅英文原版小说。2.自费出版一本诗集3.完成半程马拉松（带成绩）4.开始绘画
非非壹
Dec 8, 2018 · Traveled 2 years
写给19年20岁的晨
20岁的晨：Anita，你好哇!先偷偷问一句，攒到多少钱了呀？我干，我刚刚zqsg写了好多，结果发现我邮箱错误惹，好尴尬啊。现在重新进入状态哈哈。今天醒来的时候，看到17年的自己写的，真的特别感动啦。对了，再偷偷问一句，今天是从小姜身边醒来的吗？嘻嘻还喜欢她吗，喜欢的话，没有关系啦，继续坚持好了，b
吴与伦比
Dec 19, 2018 · Traveled 1 year
写给100天后的自己
马上过生日了 100天里状态有变化吗？ 是否多了些可以确定的东西？
n3920
Dec 22, 2018 · Traveled 3 months 14 days
人生就是翻越一个又一个低谷
亲爱的，祝你生日快乐！祝你新的一岁好运连连，脱颖而出。愿你翻越荆棘，不畏将来，不念过往。 我们本是同体，却又不得不活成两个人，互相拥抱互相取暖互相给予力量活下去。我知道我即将离去，生日那天我除了一封信留给你，再无其他惊喜。别难过，我离开也是爱你的方式，只是有些事需要你自己去经历，比如，一个人好好生活
wuli纯纯的巧克力牛奶
Jan 12, 2019 · Traveled 7 days
226
生日快乐！30天能创造什么？新的习惯，晚上读书的习惯。每天冥想的习惯。一月三本书。《橡树上的逃命》每天瑜伽拉伸的习惯新的企业加入的习惯。
Carolyn02783
Jan 30, 2019 · Traveled 1 month
21岁的自己，生日快乐
廿一岁的自己： 你好！今天是你的生日，首先祝你生日快乐。时光倥偬，距离曾经的高考过去有两年了，距离高一的懵懂无知已经五年了，距离初三时的热血已经六年了，你认为你长大了没有。我们总想着自己就是一个大人了，可是我们又一无所有，却整天妄想着整个宇宙。自己失去了太多，也后悔很多，但是时间长了就会释然许多。就
白泽子
Feb 24, 2019 · Traveled 4 months 2 days
00:00点的小超超收
嘛，现在是2019.2.27.4:40在这之前算是跟你商量了一下给你买什么生日礼物，哦！先祝你生日快乐嘻嘻嘻。我纠结了很久，虽然很想很想给你买情趣大礼包，但是我最后还是决定给你买杜蕾斯，毕竟看起来挺好吃的样子咯咯咯
妙啊
Feb 27, 2019 · Traveled 4 days
34岁生日快乐
此刻，你在哪里，工作怎么样？生日是怎么过的？有人记得你的生日吗？
缪斯的微笑
Mar 1, 2019 · Traveled 2 months 29 days
一岁过去了
亲爱的我：别来无恙！今天是你的生日。我是一年前的化身。你又大了一岁，恭喜你！现在你应该已经读初一了吧？希望你不要放弃你的编程和英语，继续努力下去！生活不是一帆风顺的，加油！ 2019的你 2019年3月9日星期六
Wow_
Mar 9, 2019 · Traveled 1 year 8 months
Photo letter
生日快乐！
生日快乐！不知道有没有人给你过。 祝你好运2019.3.28加油
n4140
Mar 28, 2019 · Traveled 2 years 1 month
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