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亲爱的老婆，亲爱的自己
无从下笔的一晚上，时间好快，祝亲爱的自己32岁生日快乐。也祝老婆还有两个宝贝健康快乐的成长。现在的我，23.15分，你和两个宝宝都睡了，我坐着 今天是股票亏损过后的一个多月，没想到31岁的这年，遇到了这么多的事情，本以为是一件快乐的事情，会赚点，多点小钱钱，但是没想到，到头来都是一场空。当然，不知道
自己の未来
Nov 11, 2024 · Traveled 11 months 7 days
L
生日快乐吖，平安喜乐( ﹡ˆoˆ﹡ ) 照顾好自己。(上个祝福选错日期 ， 抱歉) (｡>∀
UK
Nov 24, 2024 · Traveled 5 months 1 day
Photo letter
生日快乐🎂最爱的姐姐
希望你永远开心🥳幸福
18173184841
Nov 25, 2024 · Traveled 1 day
何雨阳的信
姐姐，今天是你的生日，弟弟祝你生日快乐，你要开心，弟弟在这一天也会在心里祝福你，希望姐姐能等我到高考结束，希望姐姐能看到我长大，给弟弟一点挽回空间，我也会释怀的，把一切交给时间好不好，时间会证明我到底听不听你话的！
13168103167
Dec 4, 2024 · Traveled 3 months 12 days
20岁生日快乐！
你好啊！转眼间你就20岁了最近过得怎么样呢？未来对你还算友好吗？哦，不过对你来说现在是过去了…昨天张跟我说我在高一那会很吵很吵她的原话是“我就不知道哪有那多事找我”…嗯…很难评 现在我写这封信的时候是大一上学期末了其实在上大学之前我也没想到我还是放不下嘴上说的放下啊，不留遗憾啊，上面的其实啊，心里还
笑尘
Dec 5, 2024 · Traveled 1 year 4 months
Photo letter
嘿！25岁的我
未来的我，生日快乐，见信如面，今天是2025年1月17号22点04分，当我按下键盘的时候，我茫然四顾想说点什么，却又不知道怎么开口。就像自己遇到什么事情都不知道给谁说，如24年4月30号的被公司给开除，如在8月初又被公司开除，如在郑州就已经是一个人生活了，熟悉的人要么已经远离这座城市，要么忙不怎么在
憨憨1
Jan 17, 2025 · Traveled 1 year 1 month
Photo letter
嘿！25岁的我
未来的我，生日快乐，见信如面，今天是2025年1月17号22点04分，当我按下键盘的时候，我茫然四顾想说点什么，却又不知道怎么开口。就像自己遇到什么事情都不知道给谁说，如24年4月30号的被公司给开除，如在8月初又被公司开除，如在郑州就已经是一个人生活了，熟悉的人要么已经远离这座城市，要么忙不怎么在
憨憨1
Jan 17, 2025 · Traveled 1 year 1 month
生日快樂呀
呀哈～ 生日快樂呀 有點擔心會不會跑到垃圾郵件 XD 哈哈 這次能猜到是誰寫的嗎 雖然上次我忘記了 感覺這次我應該依舊忘記XD我要給自己提示，讓我知道是我寫的雖然你看不懂 提示： 雲 / 太陽 希望 / 玉石 月亮 嗯嗯 這個提示我就知道是我寫的
emilyzaqewq
Jan 19, 2025 · Will travel 7 years
L
生日快乐，希望你成为世界上最幸福的人，天天开心
hebingqian8
Mar 14, 2025 · Traveled 5 months 30 days
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
Mar 14, 2025 · Will travel 4 years 9 months
生日快乐，恭喜成年。
To 薛佳怡Twinkleeee： 亲爱的薛佳怡同学，你来啦~（一阵劲爆的电吉他声） 生日快乐！恭喜成年！我是妮子酱。今年，是你和我认识的第【3】个年头。18岁悄然到来，让我们一起来看看即将成年的你都有哪些收获吧！～（一阵劲爆的电吉他声）今年，你的关键词为【孙振喆我***】【老子扇死你】【滚】，和我
Rosalie
Mar 24, 2025 · Traveled 1 day
Photo letter
回忆
😃😃😃你好，我是2025年3月31日的马镇龙，这个时光邮局，我在快手上找着的，为此我也想给未来的马镇龙说几句话，你千万不要把我的小时候快手上的作品给删了，那些都是我的回忆，同时我也想问你一句，你考上大学了吗？也希望你当一名解放军，能够保家卫国，照顾爸爸妈妈，同时，快手号也不要改，我的快手号是：mc1
hellottt_2025
Mar 31, 2025 · Will travel 6 years 6 months
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