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
给你
嘿，小姑娘，先祝生日快乐，万事胜意！无论你此刻身在何处，在干什么，身边有谁陪着，此刻自己最大，先闭上眼睛许下今年的生日愿望
泡泡泡泡yu
2021.02.15
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
2022.10.07
for future xinky part.32
第三十二天，修仙修仙，我们的目标是没有蛀牙233祝我生日快乐，感谢所有祝福我的人嘿嘿嘿(º﹃º )3.17 23:28
过去的星奇
2017.03.21
生日快乐猪！
希望不久之后我们不再犹豫，希望一年之后我能跟你一起看到这封信，希望今后的我们幸福快乐，希望我能一辈子都把你照顾好。
谈猪猪的猪
2018.03.26
备忘录
霄霄姐啊，还记得你自己说过的话吗？还有三天老公过生日啦，记得亲手做个蛋糕给他哦~——21岁的凌霄2016.7.15
n1577
2016.07.15
纪闲啊 你能看到吗
祝未来的我生日快乐啊。估计也很少有人记得的你的生日了吧～那就这样吧 一个人勇敢走下去，追求你所爱的人所爱的事去吧。
纪闲
2015.01.23
生日快乐
生日快乐，有老婆孩子了记得回家过生日，你还是网瘾少年吗，还玩不玩LOL，老婆长的怎么样，生活舒坦吗，在哪上班。
n5055
2020.06.26
生日快乐
你好，生日快乐，十八岁的感觉怎么样，是不是感觉成了大人了，你现在是不是非常有成就了，希望你未来有更大的成就
3892039074
2025.11.08
给王灿的
这是我们认识的十年 也是你的生日祝你生日快乐 希望我们又下一个十年 我想现在的我应该不想十年前一样喜欢你了
贱贱一笑很倾城07096
2021.05.04
写给你的信
瘦了吗？有男朋友了吗？还喜欢他吗？养了一年半的头发剪短了吗？如果都是yes。恭喜你，生日快乐快乐超级快乐啊
n3455
2018.10.08
祝自己生日快乐
哈哈 逗逼 今日是你生日 你应该很开心 祝自己生日快乐啊
ParTing
2015.11.02
兮兒小姐
陳先生你還記得今天么今天是我的生日也是我們的約定你還記得約定么如果現在的你身邊有個她那就告訴她你愛她哈哈哈
兮兒小姐_
2013.07.03
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