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
嘿，姚朝鑫，今天你生日呦
嘿，姚朝鑫，今天你生日，还记得吗？不论发生了什么，今天一定要快乐哦，爱你，么么哒
朝呐
Dec 19, 2019 · Traveled 1 month 14 days
你还好么？
今天你生日，不论这两天发生了什么，今天一定要记得开心哦，爱你，么么哒争取mi Ta呦
朝呐
Dec 20, 2019 · Traveled 1 month 13 days
写给主人
主人， 今天是你的29岁生日，往后的两个多月里我们就一样大了。主人，生日快乐。 主人我好想好想你，好想紧紧的抱着你。快一年了，你不在我身边，我也有欢笑的时候，只是快乐好像是短暂的，是努力贴在面颊上的，挂在嘴角旁的，我想那种表情一定是平淡的。我想念在你身旁哈哈大笑，露出门牙的那个自己，是一只丑丑的奴隶
仰望的人
Dec 21, 2019 · Will travel 10 years
老张，生日快乐！
老张：生日快乐！去年一年，身体还好吗？是一个孩子的爸爸，还是2个呢？去年一年，收获多吗？家里的老婆听话不，你的爱多一点了，还是变少了？今天生日了，要不要带你去吃饭看电影呀？我可以抽空出来陪你呀！
泽妈
Jan 21, 2020 · Traveled 1 year 2 months
Photo letter
生日快乐
时光就像晃动的钟摆，在滴答中流逝， 现在给你写信的我是24的时候，熬着黑眼圈，写给27岁的你。从来都是相爱容易相守太难，但我们从认识到到相爱好像花了5年的时间，曾经的五年里，我们是同学，家门，从一开始我就没想过我们会在一起，一直到后来我都是稀里糊涂的，但是好在最后还是你。我们从16年开始，到20j年
乖乖
Jan 29, 2020 · Traveled 3 years
写给未来的“猪”
这是猪猪的16岁生日呀，猪猪生日快乐！猪猪又大一岁了呢，没想到猪猪这么小，还老说自己是大人呢！我开心，开心在我生气的时候你会哄我，开心在我难过的时候你会安慰我，开心你包容我！有时候呢，会跟你闹脾气……可是，猪猪我真的是太没有安全感了，我怕我时时刻刻都在想你，而你却没有！可是我的猪猪永远都是最棒的！希
半杯咖啡
Feb 17, 2020 · Traveled 1 month 10 days
Photo letter
来自广寒宫的一封宇宙无敌信❤
没错是我，可爱的月亮姑娘，美丽的小仙女，漂亮的公主，你的我（呕吐） 不晓得这个时候我们还在一起不，不在一起了就很尴尬了，看到这就OK了，可以删了，但你说万一还在一起嘞，那该多好哈哈哈哈哈 但是最最基本的是 你这个时候没死吧 差了8个月在，应该没这么快死 不然我写给谁看呐 给死人好瘆得慌哇 为了不让我
笔友965266
Feb 18, 2020 · Traveled 8 months 3 days
写给25岁的于昱
今天是你的生日你一定是很开心的吧如此我想讲述十九岁的我不成熟的想法，也不清楚如今的你生活如何？有没有男朋友？变得苗条美丽了嘛？长发及腰了嘛？工作稳定嘛？收入如何？成年人的第一个年头步入大学并不如我想象的样愉快，后悔的心理想必也是有的，只想快些离开爬上更高的阶梯，只有一个选择专升本！希望考研考硕越来越
十二酱
Feb 23, 2020 · Traveled 5 years 7 months
21岁的小魔仙生日快乐！
hello～你好呀，我是18岁的小魔仙，第一次给自己写信，也不知道收不收得到。估计你肯定忘记了这件事了。现在的你已经21了吧，21岁也是女孩子很重要的生日哦，祝你生日快乐呀小魔仙～现在的你还和L.在一起吗？希望你可以和他一起看这封信，但如果自己看也没关系啦。现在的你有没有过上自己想要的日子呢？以前喜
魔仙有支魔法棒
Feb 25, 2020 · Traveled 3 years
我是小魔仙呀
哈哈哈哈哈，想不到吧20岁的凌元聪生日快乐啊
凌元聪
Feb 25, 2020 · Traveled 2 years 3 months
Photo letter
写给未来的…
大三了，毕业实习了吗，生活过得怎么样了，有没有未来的目标了，身边的恋人是谁呢，要不断努力下去哟，生日快乐
n4785
Feb 28, 2020 · Traveled 2 years 5 months
生日礼物
今天是27岁的你，你的胸中是否依然保持着17岁的青春和活力，你的容颜是否像你希望的那样山清水秀，你的内心又是否经常保持着风轻云淡，如果答案是肯定的，说明了你没有辜负好时光，也学会了善待自己。
比较幸福啦
Mar 1, 2020 · Traveled 6 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