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
潇潇，你还在吗
丫头，你还在吗？如果在的话请微微笑，庆幸这个世界，厌烦自己的父母吗，是的，如果还是这样，请微微一笑，没什么大不了， 我希望三年后的你活着在你生日这天，你要开心。你现在谈的那个对象还在吗，他是个胖子，对你不错，请珍惜。 还在想念曾经暗恋的他他吗，相信你不曾忘记，我只希望你健康的活着。爱你的潇潇，肖肖。
是自己
May 28, 2019 · Traveled 3 years
Photo letter
不知道今天对你来说还会不会有意义
有可能。在好久的未来你才看得到这封信，不知道我们还在不在一起。今天是我们在一起的第89天，可能没有因为你已经跟我分手了，我等着你所说的复合你说在今天你会给我一个蛋糕没有也没关系只要这个时候我们还在一起就是给我最好的生日礼物真的很喜欢你，不知道你是否还如此-----写于等你消息的漫长时光
n4236
May 31, 2019 · Traveled 1 month 12 days
生日快乐，有生的日子要天天快乐
生日快乐呀，有生的日子要天天快乐记得要幸福，平安健康快乐我爱你
神仙要去哪里找
Jul 1, 2019 · Traveled 9 months 11 days
亲爱的张同学，你好啊
从前车马很慢，书信很远，一生只爱一个人。这封信就寄出在你生日那天吧，先提前跟你说句:张佳浩同学，生日快乐阿，永远18岁，嘿嘿❤️
用户6000358054
Jul 15, 2019 · Traveled 3 months 16 days
来自2019年的一封信#郝先生
此时的我仍在昆山联滔实习，确实很累此时的你，应该一切都走上正轨，今天也是你的生日，祝你生日快乐，同时希望你还能记得曾几何时我们崇高的理想与最后选择的道路。此刻，我强调一下我们曾经的约定:那次，书香校园课，老师问大家日后想要成为什么样的人，你果断起身回应:我想成为一个公事公办，谦虚，诚恳的人，希望你还
Baither
Jul 28, 2019 · Traveled 4 years 7 months
Photo letter
来自2019年的一封信#郝先生
此时的我仍在昆山联滔实习，确实很累此时的你，应该一切都走上正轨，今天也是你的生日，祝你生日快乐，同时希望你还能记得曾几何时我们崇高的理想与最后选择的道路。此刻，我强调一下我们曾经的约定:那次，书香校园课，老师问大家日后想要成为什么样的人，你果断起身回应:我想成为一个公事公办，谦虚，诚恳的人，希望你还
Baither
Jul 28, 2019 · Traveled 4 years 7 months
《需要被记住的日子》
桌上的插座连着充电器，充电器连着手机，手机连着细长的耳机，耳机连着疲惫不堪的我……你看我，像不像一个每天需要输液的病人。 今天是个很特别的日子，是我的心心念念——“朴灿烈”的生日。真开心啊！到了这天我一定挂着满脸的笑容，因为今天是你降临这世界的一天。如果你不来到这个世界，我一定就遇不上这么美好的你。
wuli纯纯的巧克力牛奶
Aug 5, 2019 · Traveled 3 months 22 days
写给22岁的自己
首先 生日快乐啊 小付同学 找到工作没呢马上就是20年了 19年真的很快 一转眼从高中生变成了大学生 没有像小的时候那样想长大了 有的时候甚至希望自己可以小一点 不知道你找到自己喜欢的工作没 现在的你真是无头苍蝇一样 不知道该往哪个方向努力 如愿上了黑大 好像没有那么开心了 有时候想为什么不把目标定
付轶男
Nov 14, 2019 · Traveled 2 years 8 months
大果果，生日快乐
小果果呀，生日快乐，明天放假啦，你要干什么呀？现在长大了吧，课程应该快学完了吧，感觉怎么样呢？跟父神的关系怎么样呢？还是一个人吗？现在呢，是2019年11月29日，今天来大姨妈啦，体重114，皮肤很好。学习话语大概两个月，还有胆怯，不敢练讲的灵，跟别人交流还是有点羞涩，紧张。今天何工说，吃刚刚腌的咸
n4588
Nov 29, 2019 · Traveled 4 months 5 days
我最可爱的丽
我可爱的丽你好，我是2019年的可可呀我们经历了很多很多，也分过一次，我已经很努力的去珍惜你了但我这臭毛病总是让你感到不开心，我是真的希望抱着你睡觉的那个人是我今天是你二十生日吧，祝你生日快乐！，如个那个时候我们还在一起的话我会给你一个大大的礼物，永远陪在你身边，不离不弃爱你哦
zhangkeyang
Dec 13, 2019 · Traveled 4 years 10 months
写给未来的…
生日快乐啊十三岁的李荀霏。你还好吗？？恭喜你又老了，我现在比你年轻哦你还是个沙雕吗？？
拆迁
Dec 15, 2019 · Traveled 4 months 22 days
Photo letter
嘿，姚朝鑫，今天生日呦，记得要快乐哦
嘿，姚朝鑫，今天又长大了一岁，不论发生了什么，一定要记得快乐哦
朝呐
Dec 19, 2019 · Traveled 2 months 9 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