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
Photo letter
祝高大个儿生日快乐呀
嘿！大个儿： 首先今个你生日（起码身份证上是今天）， 冬雪不埋小欢喜 一岁总有一岁期新的一岁，喜乐哀愁一笔勾销，从此开始新的逍遥，愿你作为不老少女的日子，永远眼里有光，笑的坦荡，热爱童话、英雄和魔法。“漫天星光沿途散播，长路尽头总有灯火”新的一岁你可能会有新的迷茫，但是记得长路尽头会有你要的灯火就好
王拾捌
Sep 29, 2022 · Traveled 3 months 17 days
20岁生日快乐
20年前，红色的怪物诞生了，象征着泪水。如今她想成为爱意的小芽，开出红色的花朵。生日快乐，一直都做得很好的热烈的洛洛。
n8150
Oct 7, 2022 · Traveled 10 days
生日券
生日快乐宝贝快去找我请你吃饭，哈哈哈给未来的自己挖坑，嘻嘻嘻
n8169
Oct 20, 2022 · Traveled 3 years
写给未来的喻欣怡
致未来的自己： Hi！欣怡 我是18岁的你哟，看到这封信时，是你19岁的生日。先给你说一声生日快乐！你今天开心吗。记得你一直跟我说想要在生日这天做一些有纪念意义的事情，一开始本来是决定在18岁这个特殊的日子来完成的，可惜，这一年恰逢高考，你的18岁也是匆匆就过去了。后来你说你一定要在19岁的时候补上
n8195
Nov 2, 2022 · Traveled 2 months 20 days
Dear 闺宝
生日快乐！！快乐∈（－∞，＋∞） 爱你的慧
双鲤
Nov 12, 2022 · Traveled 8 months 26 days
李
生日快乐 假如你是单身可以领取一个愿望17382787273
黑衣
Nov 26, 2022 · Traveled 1 year 11 months
可以忽略的信
首先在这里祝你跨年快乐吧，这段时间我也有在好好生活啦，我和她过的也没那么幸福啦，我也试着把心里腾干净去爱她发现没用，每次凌晨的时候就会想到和你以前的点点滴滴，虽然我知道都过去了，但是我以后也不会那么幸福了吧，我知道你是真的想退出了，是和我在一起很痛苦吧，我还是想把你追回来，想在你累的时候肩膀给你靠，
辰
Dec 1, 2022 · Traveled 1 month
憨批轲铭生日快乐
生日快乐o！事发突然，没来得及准备什么，我好像都没怎么给你过过生日，挺对不起你的，很幸运认识你，很幸运成为朋友，很幸运一起走过这么一段时间。你真的挺像一个大哥哥的，事事有回应，事事有着落，而且你是唯一一个我相处起来不会有负担的异性，我差点就弄丢了，还好还好，缘分未尽。你比我大一届，所以，在这里衷心祝
n8381
Dec 2, 2022 · Traveled 1 day
写给未来的henrenzhende自己
To未来的自己：（第一次听朋友推荐这个神奇网站，有了和自己说话的机会）今天是我的20岁生日，这时候的我周围应该有一群好朋友在和我一起庆祝生日。我已经上了大学二年级了，不知道现在的我是什么样的，好好奇，我想：我可能不是最优秀的，但是一定是令自己最满意的可能不是最耀眼的，但是一定是令他人为自己感到骄傲的
n8399
Dec 13, 2022 · Will travel 4 years 3 months
今天是你40岁的生日
你还在澳洲珀斯吗？你还和bob在一起吗？你有小孩了吗？爸妈有过来澳洲看看你吗？30岁的你这段时间你工作得很辛苦，pekopeko attadale 很忙碌 你现在躺在床上 很久没有还缓过来。你想做很多事情 你想去念书 你后来是选择了midwife还是teacher？你喜欢生物 地理 你还喜欢户外刺激
Grace1211
Jan 3, 2023 · Will travel 10 years
给35岁的胖然
35岁的胖然，你好，你现在是个貌美的富婆吗我是28岁的胖然现在的我，似乎目标很清晰，我想成为一个咨询师，心理减肥领域的健康管理师我开始学咨询，学oh卡，考ACE，因为我想让35岁你的变得更好；我很满意现在我自己的状态，因为我都在做我喜欢的事情，在研究我喜欢的领域；有几个聊得来的朋友男朋友也很爱我嗯，
一只胖然
Jan 14, 2023 · Will travel 7 years 1 month
写给未来的自己
Hello， 今天是你的生日，我在2023年1月15日于北京写下这封信给到十年后的自己； 不知道你现在过的怎么样，十年前的我这跟女朋友吵着架，焦虑着房贷和信用贷的事情，对自己的发展前景感到担忧，对自己的未来充满不确定性； 离新冠疫情已经过去三年了，我在2020年离开了奇安信加入了美团，新的团队很ni
yezi
Jan 15, 2023 · Will travel 10 years
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