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 letters25岁生日快乐
今天就25岁了，时间真的好快，二十万小目标达成了吗，找到对象了吗，估计这个性格还是喜欢一个人吧哈哈哈哈，还是天天开心最重要，真的很好，还是那么年轻哈哈哈
1440612086
2024.11.09
写给倪哥哥
二十五岁的宝贝生日快乐，希望我们还在一起现在是2020年十一月二十七号祝福五年后的我们身体健康家庭美满耶斯莫拉天天开心 幸幸福福在一起 我是你的宝贝小丁
n5362
2020.11.27
亲爱的奉静
首先祝你18岁生日快乐，我是15岁的奉静。你现在终于脱离了学校的束缚，现在的你怎么样了，对现在的我来说未来还非常的充满憧憬，现在是高一上册，懵懵懂懂
肴
2021.11.16
我的50岁
从今天起，努力准备自己的50岁生日礼物:1.能讲流利的英语，能自如的翻阅英文原版小说。2.自费出版一本诗集3.完成半程马拉松（带成绩）4.开始绘画
非非壹
2018.12.08
写给未来的我
又是你的生日了，现在你应该在工作了吧，或许现在想起我来，你感到很幼稚。现在 还记得她吗？或许你已经不爱她了，如果你还是个男子汉，好好工作，努力吧。
n735
2015.04.04
祝你生日快乐哟
生日快乐哟，23周岁了啦，有男朋友没？今年生日有跟爸爸妈妈一起过吗？还是跟男朋友一起过？不管跟谁过，都要一直快快乐乐下去哦。注册会计师考试加油哦
银子
2016.12.04
亲爱的张同学，你好啊
从前车马很慢，书信很远，一生只爱一个人。这封信就寄出在你生日那天吧，先提前跟你说句:张佳浩同学，生日快乐阿，永远18岁，嘿嘿❤️
用户6000358054
2019.07.15
2021的我
生日快乐！六年后的我，你还好吗？想必现在你已经开始步入社会了叭，有没有遇到什么问题呢？如果有也别担心，总会有解决的办法的。毕竟你那么开朗聪慧
n6649
2021.02.16
生日快乐！
嘿，程星星，先祝你生日快乐哦，你今天已经28岁了。我们已经分手了现在，但是如果你收到这封信的时候，你未嫁，我未娶。那我们结婚吧。我还喜欢你。
n5710
2020.11.28
我们
这个时候 我们应该在一起一年了 你今天生日 生日快乐 我爱你 zxh-wsm
wsm
2015.08.31
一封生日信
生日快乐！美食家，又长大一岁了呢。多活一年意味着往后日子可以要让自己去变得更好，好好享受今天的快乐，不然就失去成年前的倒数第4个生日咯 ～
你好呀
2026.05.05
露露我是不是已经不在你身边了？
你胃疼，一定要按时吃饭膝盖好些了吗？打雷还怕么？枕边人还是我么？想到这里好难过心里好压抑祝你生日快乐啊不许你不开心不打扰，是我最后的温柔
熊金鹏
2022.06.07
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