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 letters2021的陈阿玲写给2022的陈阿玲
你好呀！陈阿玲，我是2021年的你，今天你过生日哦，祝你生日快乐，今天也是我生日，你会祝我生日快乐吧，说说我今天发生的事情吧，今天和往常一样去上班下班差不多是六点，回来后差不多是六点半，飞飞跟我买的小蛋糕到了，我收拾了下房间，把蛋糕放好，等飞飞过来，差不多八点的时候飞飞过来了，跟我买了花花，我跟飞飞
g阿婆
Jun 9, 2021 · Traveled 11 months 20 days
Photo letter
致明年的自己
今天是你的生日，祝你18岁生日快乐！！不知道今天你的心情怎么样，你的那行老朋友们还在。马上要考试了，我有点慌，害怕考砸。。上次考的太好，这次有点压力。。生日快乐！！
Lie
Jun 11, 2021 · Traveled 1 year
这封信来自2021年8月11日的冯三玉
亲爱的自己： 我是2021年8月11日的你，今天是我们的生日
遇上方知有Y
Jul 15, 2021 · Traveled 2 years 1 month
未来的自己，你好
2021.7.16今天是进行了7个面试，5个面试出结果的日子，不知道该说啥，回想7.2-7.10的那段日子，每段新的面试开始前其实自己都有很多很多的担忧，但是不知道从何做起，没有动力去准备，而且还心想着期末考试，果然我还是一个对成绩有无比执念的人，不知道该说啥吧，不适合两条线并行的人果然还是会让自己
XJN
Jul 16, 2021 · Traveled 2 months 12 days
未来的自己，你好
2021.7.16今天是进行了7个面试，5个面试出结果的日子，不知道该说啥，回想7.2-7.10的那段日子，每段新的面试开始前其实自己都有很多很多的担忧，但是不知道从何做起，没有动力去准备，而且还心想着期末考试，果然我还是一个对成绩有无比执念的人，不知道该说啥吧，不适合两条线并行的人果然还是会让自己
XJN
Jul 16, 2021 · Traveled 2 months 12 days
周星星，生日快乐
这天应该在学校，如果不在学校我也应该会忘记，so，在网上搜了一下之前用过的这个邮箱，已经忘记了这个邮箱会怎么发出去了，上次用这个是2年前了，@&#$*%=不说杂七杂八的了，如果邮箱发了什么杂七杂八的东西，别理了，反正一句：生日快乐(￣▽￣)ԅ(¯ㅂ¯ԅ)(´｡✪ω✪｡｀)(σ′▽‵)′▽‵)σ\^O
n7277
Jul 21, 2021 · Traveled 1 month 5 days
写给未来的另一半
封凛～，生日快乐呀！陪你过的第一个生日，希望以后还可以一起过一百个生日，希望我们会越来越幸福，互相陪伴，互相成长，成为更好的自己，一路上有你真好！我爱你❤️
夏嘻嘻滋滋
Jul 24, 2021 · Traveled 6 months 10 days
好了吗？
20周岁了 高低也是奔2了 今年生日旁边有人陪了嘛 肯定挣到钱了吧 应该快乐了吧
u
Aug 8, 2021 · Traveled 1 year
生日快乐！
亲爱的，不知道我们是否还在一起，这是在你人生中陪伴你的第二个生日，祝亲爱的永远十八岁，年轻漂亮！ 日复一日，年复一年！又是新的一岁，哈哈哈
像昨天
Aug 18, 2021 · Traveled 3 months 3 days
Photo letter
写给lyc
生日快乐呀～我应该没记错吧，记错了也没事反正我的祝福已经送到啦～你应该有了很多很好很好的朋友陪你一起陪你过生日吧，或许还有很爱你的她哈哈哈你应该很幸福了（如果这个没有实现的话，当我没说hhh，不是故意戳你是单身狗的点❛‿˂̵✧）～反正都是理所当然的事情。祝你一切顺利，心想事成！你真的很好啦，脾气好，
n7370
Aug 25, 2021 · Traveled 1 month 25 days
给沙沙的生日祝福吖
首先，祝我们沙沙20岁生日快乐！！这是我陪你过得第一个生日，还不知道你过得其实是阴历，好尴尬啊！！不过没关系，只有我陪你过，想想也很有纪念意义哒~真不错啊~嘿嘿~这个时候你应该在睡觉吧，大懒猪，天天就知道睡，也不多陪陪我，哼╯^╰！ 其次，希望我们沙沙能变白，哈哈哈哈哈哈哈太黑了不好看，我也会嫌弃你
n7399
Sep 3, 2021 · Traveled 8 days
过得怎么样
过得怎么样啊，隔得远没办法给你送上生日祝福，在此祝你生日快乐，虽然你的生日不在今天，但是预计你生日那一天我就不在了，小寿星，开心一点上课不许胡思乱想，不会的题多问问别人
n7403
Sep 5, 2021 · Traveled 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