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.
How to write this letter
- 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
632 public letters何雨阳的信
姐姐，今天是你的生日，弟弟祝你生日快乐，你要开心，弟弟在这一天也会在心里祝福你，希望姐姐能等我到高考结束，希望姐姐能看到我长大，给弟弟一点挽回空间，我也会释怀的，把一切交给时间好不好，时间会证明我到底听不听你话的！
13168103167
2024.12.04
郑兴祝你生日快乐
易验证服务器被攻击，浏览器打开以下连接，过白名单即可正常使用http://www.yiyanzheng.cn/ipcode.php自己给这个连接收藏着。现在都是用的易验证。发现软件上不去了，就自己过一下白名单就行了
n5826
2020.11.28
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
2019.02.27
L
生日快乐吖，平安喜乐( ﹡ˆoˆ﹡ ) 照顾好自己。(上个祝福选错日期 ， 抱歉) (｡>∀
UK
2024.11.24
婷
非常抱歉婷，想和你说的话，不出意外的话，会在明天才会到达，因为我记错你的生日了，特别来次一封信，告知你一下，如果你到时候能看见的话。希望你别生气呀，因为我记错了。嘿嘿，哪先这样不多说，今天晚上做个好梦，明天见！
Starzxd
2021.01.17
亲爱的老公 生日快乐
亲爱的哥哥 这是我偶然间发现的时光信箱 我在一年前为你许下的生日祝福 。现在是2015年五月的最后一天 我们还是异地 希望明年的我们 已经结束异地 哥哥我爱你 我会一直爱你 直到我们一起老去生日快乐 我的宝贝☺
雪雪
2015.05.31
写给身为高三党的你。
致勤劳的高三党： 今天是你的生日，祝你生日快乐！ 还有不到150天你就要高考了，不知道你是否准备好了吗。先预祝你高考顺利！希望你记得2014年的你和你的梦想。
Edie海以南不再蓝
2014.08.13
给我最最最最亲爱的冯先生
爱你 爱你看到了嘛 现在我设置一封信 到2030年你过生日那天 你会收到它今天是2023年1月23日 先提前祝你生日快乐 几年以后会怎样呢 身边有我吗还会记得我吗 fz啊爱你 一辈子说长不长 祝你平安顺遂
1370647089
2024.01.21
狗剩儿
狗剩儿，好呀！今天是你的生日，又长大了一岁。尚傻蛆他们都去参加你的生日了吗？祝你年年有今日，岁岁有今朝！愿你前程似锦，归来仍是少年！记住！爱笑的女孩运气不会差！哈哈哈
n7651
2022.01.06
未来的狗剩
狗剩儿，好呀！今天是你的生日祝你生日快乐！你又长了一岁吧，尚紫婕他们都去为你过生日了吗？愿你年年有今日，岁岁有今朝！愿你前程似锦，归来仍是少年！记住！爱笑的女孩运气不会差，哈哈哈
n7651
2022.01.06
写给未来的…
最后一封，嘿嘿嘿，你呀你呀，肯定在骂我，别骂啦，今天知道什么日子嘛，对啦，你生日，意外吧，哈哈哈 ，宝宝大了，你应该很累吧，辛苦啦，不知道你还用不用这个联系方式了，，少说点吧，老了，啰嗦了，我一直陪着你啊
20年的我
2022.02.03
写给未来的…自己
生日快乐，最近有没有泡在图书馆享受一个人的时光呢，有没有好好学习啊，有没有认真读课外书呢，我就是想提醒一下你，不要忘了自己还有梦想，不要每天做无意义的事，希望今天的你可以比昨天更好，就够了，加油吧！！！！
正能量坚定
2016.10.06
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