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 letters226
生日快乐！30天能创造什么？新的习惯，晚上读书的习惯。每天冥想的习惯。一月三本书。《橡树上的逃命》每天瑜伽拉伸的习惯新的企业加入的习惯。
Carolyn02783
2019.01.30
写给未来的自己
今天是“你”的十三岁生日哟，怎么样，初中生活是不是很不习惯啊，有没有认识一些新的朋友呢，不要忘记了，小学六年来陪我们一起玩耍的莹莹哟~
念酱
2015.03.23
给蒙玮琪的一封信
大笨蛋，生日快乐！我在3月10日提前祝你生日快乐哦，想我我家宝贝能高高兴兴，学习超好，越变越好看，我越来越喜欢，日子还长，我们慢慢过
n6827
2021.03.10
给蒙玮琪的一封信
大笨蛋，生日快乐！我在3月10日提前祝你生日快乐哦，想我我家宝贝能高高兴兴，学习超好，越变越好看，我越来越喜欢，日子还长，我们慢慢过
n6827
2021.03.10
给蒙玮琪的一封信
大笨蛋，生日快乐！我在3月10日提前祝你生日快乐哦，想我我家宝贝能高高兴兴，学习超好，越变越好看，我越来越喜欢，日子还长，我们慢慢过
n6827
2021.03.10
给小夏的一封信
哈哈哈！今天是2020年12月1日，没错这是一封来自未来的邮件。小夏收到这封邮件的时候应该十八岁啦！祝小姑娘生日快乐！说真的挺想你的
sml
2020.12.01
生日快乐
没啥可说的其实，写于2014年9月17号，10分钟之后我会给你打电话，但你可能已经不记得了，不过希望一切都还好，生日快乐，你52了。
n453
2014.09.17
这封信来自2021年8月11日的冯三玉
亲爱的自己： 我是2021年8月11日的你，今天是我们的生日
遇上方知有Y
2021.07.15
生日快乐🎂
愿您的生活充满阳光，每天都充满欢笑。🎂生日快乐，愿幸福永远与你一路同行。🎈不期望岁月如何更迭，都期望你保持如初的活力与美好。🌟
jiehua123987
2025.03.14
傻逼熊燕
今天是我生日呢，距离你的生日也不远了，半年了，和你的小男友还好吗，有没有过的更好，变得更瘦，变得更漂亮呢，我是你永远的朋友噢。
n6682
2021.02.16
给3个月后的自己
今天是你的生日，你给我记住，活这么大了，最应该珍惜的是什么想必你也该清楚了。别再犯贱了，别再对不对你好的人好了。你丫给我记住
samshao
2013.03.23
写给小寿星孙梦聪哦或者是梦言大baka
见字如面愿你拥有一段难忘的岁月，和锦绣的前程。没有别的意思，对你确实没有邪念。祝你生日快乐，祝不要忘记梦想，祝能变得更好。
n6647
2021.02.16
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