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好了吗？
20周岁了 高低也是奔2了 今年生日旁边有人陪了嘛 肯定挣到钱了吧 应该快乐了吧
u
2021.08.08
陈桂轩
新年快乐。你也该18岁了。祝你生日快乐今年我17岁你现在18了。我是15岁的hm
n5978
2020.11.29
嘿，姚朝鑫，今天你生日呦
嘿，姚朝鑫，今天你生日，还记得吗？不论发生了什么，今天一定要快乐哦，爱你，么么哒
朝呐
2019.12.19
祝你生日快乐
2014年12月17日，这是认识你的第5个生日，第1498天，祝你生日快乐！
小鱼
2014.02.11
给未来的自己
骚年这个月过后可以去网吧了，是不是(｡･∀･)ﾉﾞ嗨，你成年了，骚年努力吧！！
CARRY
2015.05.12
祝你生日快乐！
2020年12月17日，这是认识你的第11个生日，第3690天，祝你生日快乐！
小鱼
2014.02.11
祝你生日快乐！
2019年12月17日，这是认识你的第10个生日，第3324天，祝你生日快乐！
小鱼
2014.02.11
写给未来的…
知道·你能否收到这封信·就是想说生日快乐·谢谢你也讨厌你··一年·一年··谢谢
yun-同學大
2013.04.25
写给未来的大头儿子瞿龙翔
你好2022年的瞿龙翔，我是2021年2月15日的蒋叶，祝你这天生日快乐哟。
好吃懒做的笨笨
2021.02.15
祝你生日快乐！
2018年12月17日，这是认识你的第9个生日，第2959天，祝你生日快乐！
小鱼
2014.02.11
祝你生日快乐！
2017年12月17日，这是认识你的第8个生日，第2594天，祝你生日快乐！
小鱼
2014.02.11
祝你生日快乐！
2016年12月17日，这是认识你的第7个生日，第2229天，祝你生日快乐！
小鱼
2014.02.11
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