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我是周崽崽哦lzy
宝宝我们这个时候应该还是会好好的腻歪在一起吧宝宝，这个时候可能应该毕业啦嘿嘿嘿，今天是22年2月5号哦，今天你来姨妈发脾气了，嘿嘿嘿，我凶你了，但是不要担心哦，我很爱你，我没有减分过哦，毕业了怎么办呢宝宝，考不上大学怎么办呢宝宝，你家里人看不上我怎么办呢宝宝，哭了我，我太怕我以后没钱了，我太怕你不能
n7703
Feb 5, 2022 · Traveled 3 years
五曦
生日快乐，如果我没记错的话。前三封应该是没寄出去了，中考加油
az
Feb 6, 2022 · Traveled 1 month 11 days
致24年的我
首先祝亲爱的我生日快乐~快乐快乐快乐快乐
不悔
Apr 1, 2022 · Traveled 2 years 8 months
来自18岁的叶苗
五年后自己会是怎么样的一个人了呢，会是有钱的、有人爱、的父母也健康、家庭也美满，这样好像有点太奢侈了，可是这就是我的希望呀。那五年后的叶苗今天是你的生日先祝你生日快乐呀！！ 五年后我是否还记得万诗涵，我现在也不知道应该不应该忘记他，好像还挺烦恼的。但是呀在以后可别再伤害别人了，对自己和别人都好一点吧
沐依侗
Apr 2, 2022 · Will travel 5 years 5 months
写给好朋友Jiang
生日快乐我的宝，认识两年啦，还记得第一次和你说话的时候，真高冷呀，但是就想和你聊天，其实我不太善于交际，我觉得我就像罗拉一样，你懂的，完了莫名其妙的就玩在一起了，其实友情这玩意最难得的不是遇见好朋友，而是我们慢慢志同道合，这路上走散了好多人，值得庆幸的是还好身边有你，你一直在我的青春里，一起长大，谢
n7839
Apr 3, 2022 · Traveled 1 month 5 days
今年的生日愿望
生日快乐猪宏斌，但是今年我的生日愿望是祝你不幸福，对不起我无法这么坦荡荡祝你幸福。
爱拍照的叶叶子
Apr 29, 2022 · Traveled 2 months 3 days
十年.
张润泽，这是我（你）在2022年9点52写的一封信。我也是在知乎上面看到了这个有趣的网站，今儿你生日吧？害，我现在这个时候还在因为有一个女人敲窗户跟妈生气，还有就是5月8号就开学了，我这学期要重新做人，比如在团委会工作上一丝不苟的办事，在感情方面不被任何人所影响，不再搞对象，什么情情爱爱的都不要了-
n7880
May 5, 2022 · Will travel 10 years 6 months
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
May 23, 2022 · Will travel 7 years 5 months
你还好吗
三年后的自己你好我是20岁的zkx首先祝你也就是我自己生日快乐23岁了不知道是按照妈妈选择的路走还是自己选择的但都希望你别后悔也别怨任何人.也不知道这辈子你有没有遇到能接受你全部坏习惯的人.身边的人都还在身边吗？珍惜身边的人别为了安全感反复把人推开。最后希望你不要像20岁的zkx一样颓废忧郁孤独相信
n7943
May 23, 2022 · Traveled 3 years 5 months
给自己一封信
你好啊！三年后的我，祝你生日快乐，现在是不是已经结婚了，是不是嫁给三年前那个带回家的男孩子，现在是不是已经生了一个女儿，还是自己一个人，过得还好吗，有没有被压力压的喘不过气，我啊过得自由自在，身边有他。简简单单平平安安过得很开心，你现在过得开心吗？爸妈还在身边吗？妹妹是否已经大学毕业找到工作了。不管
n7944
May 23, 2022 · Traveled 3 years 3 months
写给未来的自己
两年后的我： 展信佳！ 此时此刻你在干什么？在做自己喜欢的事吗？或许当你收到这封信的时候已经记不得什么时候写的，但希望你看的时候是开心的，如果此时你很难过，试着望向窗外，听着舒缓的音乐，深呼吸着放松一下。 20岁的我加油！步入2开头的年纪就不要再像小孩一样了。还有就是生日快乐哈哈哈惊不惊喜意不意外，
用户6013605780
May 23, 2022 · Traveled 2 years 4 months
露露生日快乐！不要不开心哦！XJP
今天是我认识你的第一个生日露露，祝你生日快乐！by爱你的小熊
熊金鹏
Jun 7, 2022 · Traveled 5 months 16 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