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写给尤
尤，明天是你的生日了，只做你想做的事，梁帅鑫会一直爱你，不知道那时会怎样，也许你忘了我，但也许点这个会让你想起我，哈哈哈，我一直是爱你的小屁孩，这封信来自2021年，5月16日
n7099
May 16, 2021 · Traveled 2 years 8 months
祝33岁生日快乐
周智康，今天是你的生日，不管你身在何方，心里是否还记得我，依然祝你生日快乐，身体健康！ 一个你已经遗忘却依然牵挂你的人。
倩君890326
May 20, 2021 · Traveled 11 months 6 days
在实习的你
你好啊！不知道现在你跟她的关系怎么样了，是当初你关心我还是11/8的那天的心情呢，不管怎么样，你还是你，为什么你一直想为别人买单呢，你没有那个之本你凭什么，不如从现在对自己好点，你现在是在外面实习吧，而且马上就要实习结束了吧，而且现在还是你的生日吧，你有没有给自己买个小蛋糕呢，有没有人陪你过生日呢，
五指间
May 23, 2021 · Traveled 6 months 3 days
Photo letter
写给未来的…
陈阿玲你好呀，祝你生日快乐哦，我是2021年的你，你现在过得开心吗？还在质疑自己是否爱他吗？还是坚定不移的肯定，就是爱他呢，他还在你身边呢？你俩结婚了吗？有小孩子了吗？生活是你期待的吗？自从初中之后，你的生日就基本上没有过过，小时候，都是妈妈跟你买蛋糕带你去街上拍照，为什么长大后这些都没有了呢，你老
g阿婆
Jun 8, 2021 · Traveled 11 months 21 days
2021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
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