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
2021.09.05
你好。
我用这时光机给你写信。祝你生日快乐。15岁的你，现在还好吗？你的成绩是否还好？你以学会如何面对？对吗？不在乎那些了，对吗？你的头发长了，对吗？你是一个简简单单的森女吗？
Zhan
2013.03.17
写给刘小呆的一封信
2021年的刘小呆你好吖.我是2020年的章小歪，这封是写给你的信哦因为刚才有一封信我不知道你有没有收到所以才重新写一封的，嘤嘤嘤.这一天是你生日哦，所以祝你生日快乐
1231231231云
2020.11.28
祝自己生日快乐
逗逼 今天是你生日喔 是不是应该很开心啊 所以今天什么烦心事都要忘记吧 要开开心心的 对自己说一声生日快乐
ParTing
2015.11.02
一封来自2025年4月3日的信
lje，当你看到这封信时，你也已经上大学了吧，不知道你这个时候还记不记得初中有个人喜欢你，今天是你的生日，祝你生日快乐。能在你人生中当个过客也挺好的。希望你天天开心
3147915463
2025.04.03
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
2021.06.11
给未来的自己
今天是你25岁的生日了,是时候打开有道云笔记了,看看你当初的梦想清单完成了多少,如果没完成也不要气馁,大不了我们在来一年继续,一定要爱护自己!!! skr~~~
n7026
2021.04.27
生日快乐
生日快乐啊，闫淼！你收到这封信的时候，不知道我是否还记得你的生日，是否会给你祝福，毕竟我这个人忘性比较大，嘿嘿，所以在我知道你生日的时候就想这些这封时光之信
3069988193
2025.05.14
生日快乐
生日快乐啊，闫淼！你收到这封信的时候，不知道我是否还记得你的生日，是否会给你祝福，毕竟我这个人忘性比较大，嘿嘿，所以在我知道你生日的时候就想这些这封时光之信
s3069988193
2025.05.14
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
2021.07.24
生日快乐
你在哪里？你高中喜欢的人到哪里了？（说，是不是把我当年喜欢的吴优搞丢了？？？）如果你能收到这封邮件，你真幸运！加油啊！生日快乐！！！今天又是元气满满的一天
刘丰丰
2018.08.15
(*˘︶˘*).。.:*♡
知道今天是什么日子么，今天(๑•̌.•̑๑)ˀ̣ˀ̣是高考的日子，但是更重要的是，今天是你的生日Ｏ(≧▽≦)Ｏ 。 之前我傻了
未来么
2016.10.20
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