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寄给25岁的胡女士
“海压竹枝低复举，风吹山角晦还明” 生日快乐25岁的胡女士，
来自LipEnG
2020.12.24
写给你自己
嘿，今天是你18岁的生日。大学生活开始三个月了，你过得怎么样呢？还习惯吗？今天是自己一个人悄悄的过吗？有没有想谁呢？学习的怎么样，朋友认识的如何？今天成人了 该长大了，要好好照顾自己哦
是我
2016.09.04
其其写给GaryLaw 2
好快阿，又满一年了，臭老公又多一条皱纹了！去年收到那封信是不是很意外阿！呵呵！好快又到你生日了！祝愿猪猪生日快乐，永远健康！永远爱臭宝！永远不能欺负臭宝！连你都欺负我，就没人爱宝了！
Phoebe_Baby
2013.04.21
写给未来的…
今天是我的生日，祝你生日快乐，不知道你结婚了吗，7月份谈的对象怎么样了，工作顺利么，多回家看看父母，多注意自己的身体，你的帐还的怎么样了，要多想想未来，你加油(ง •̀_•́)ง
娇羞的胡萝卜
2022.07.23
写给未来的你
你过得还好吗，我们还在一起吗，你还喜欢我吗，你考上了想去的大学了吗。希望你不要迷茫，就算不喜欢我了也不要给自己增添负担，希望你能真正长大，祝你18岁生日快乐，虽然今天不是你生日。
n6186
2020.12.06
成为你想成为的样子了吗
二十岁生日快乐！要永远幸福永远不要放弃希望，少说多做，做决定前想清楚，多去了解不要一无所知盲冲，保持清醒不要放弃机会，管理时间不要白费，你会成为更好的你，不要为任何人而活🥺😙🥰
19155631816
2024.10.27
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
2021.05.16
生日快乐
今天是生日哦，首先祝福某人生日快乐。还是要好好努力的，一阶段哦，加油，你一定行！自强不息，天道酬勤！为了你爱的人请好好加油！应该找到另一半了吧，祝自己永远幸福，爱你永远支持你。
时光下的脚步
2015.12.18
写给未来七年后的自己
现在是北京时间2022/5/23 9:20哈喽呀7年后的郑依萍你好呀！ 我是17岁的郑依萍嘿嘿，首先祝25的你生日快乐
n7938
2022.05.23
我又来打扰你
biu~不知道信有没有送到，你有没有看到我又来啦，今年你应该要结婚了吧，我不能送你啦好想看一眼，算了算了，我又痴心妄想了，今天又是你生日，祝你生日快乐哦，你老公应该对你很好吧
20年的我
2022.02.03
生日快乐
生日快乐，刚刚我还发错了一张，写于2014年9月17日。其实给未来写信这个功能挺好玩的，除了祝生日快乐以外，10分钟后我会给你打电话，但你估计记不得了。祝一切都好，你52了。
n447
2014.09.17
写给未来的我
27岁生日快乐！终于来到了这个年龄。希望自己更加自信，对人生充满希望，如果可以敢爱敢恨，那就更完美了。早点嫁人。嫁个爱我的，对我热情主动的人，必须自己也喜欢他。27岁啦。
未来的自己
2014.11.25
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