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一封给我最爱的通通公主的信
一封给我最爱的通通公主的信收到这封信的时候，应该是我陪你过的第一个生日啦，先说一句生日快乐我的公主！！第一个生日，我总在想送你什么才能永远让你记住，想了很多总觉得差点意思，那就先写一封信送你吧，一封能表达我说不出口的心里话的信。我在写你，也在写我们。从哪说起呢，时间过得实在
wuhaokun
2023.11.05
写给20岁的阮格致>-<
hi,20岁的阮格致 你好呀，我是你的好朋友兼初中同学兼初中同桌兼高中同学兼追星搭子was（哇好长的title◕‿◕)首先祝你生日快乐！！20岁的阮格致会有什么不一样呢？我也不知道，只知道她一定会更漂亮，更善良，更自由。从初中到现在已经是8年了，在20年的生命里我们已经一起
liiove_7
2024.04.20
嗯…忘记了吗
成年快乐不知道是否能看见这封信，不知道是否还记得，也几乎可以预料到十八岁的自己看见这封信时满满的羞耻感吧说什么好呢现在的我，还没有参加诊断考试和直升考试呢【用考试来度量会感到奇怪么？压力，困惑，不解，都是青春期的表现吧【这么中二的话现在都觉得想想就行写下来真是不好意思啊思绪混乱的
n738
2015.04.05
小天使
生日快乐宝贝 今天想给你徐吊一堆记得第一次给你谈的时候我还有点傲娇哈哈说话也徐吊 说实话我真羡慕以前的我 我生气不理你你还会哄我还会找我现在我真怕我一点不对让你生气现在我不找你说话你也不找我烦死人了马上都没话题天天都是省略号.奥.嗯.哦.抠鼻 心好累你造吗!我都是喜欢粘一块的感觉
guoyyyh
2015.03.25
来自2024年5月14日吴雨凡寄
你好哇，范冰冰。我是来自2024年的吴雨凡，今天距离高考还有25天了，好快啊。 今天晚自习的时候，我给你立了个flag说:如果我们下个秋冬还联系的话，我会送你一件衣服，也不知道我做没做到。虽然不知道这封信，你收不收的到，也不知道这一年的时间里面，我们还联没
2285820999
2024.05.14
Hi，杨小姐！
Hi，杨小姐！30岁生日快乐！现在的你会是在哪里，又是和谁在一起看这封来自6年前的Email呢？30岁的你过得怎么样？此时此刻，你已经是个事业小有所成的女强人了吧？或许，也有了自己温馨的小家，相濡以沫的爱人，活泼可爱的孩子。你最好的朋友，依旧是上学时结交的那些闺蜜，偶尔出来逛逛街
密斯杨
2014.09.05
生日快乐！宝宝！
这是一封来自半年前的信件～现在的我正在出租屋里跟你挂着电话呢，你已经睡着啦。距离你专升本的日子越来越近了，你这段时间好像很焦虑…我总是重复的告诉你你一定能考上的！但是你总是不相信我！你看，你现在绝对是在大学里打开的这封信！对吧！我就说要相信我嘛！嘿嘿，选在你生日这一天是因为你之前
1015219799
2024.03.11
寄给18岁的邓梦英的一封信
18岁的邓梦英你好： 自我介绍一下，我是13岁的邓梦英，现在在上海合庆中学读初二，有三个很好的闺蜜，卓娉琳，于路瑶，吕喜玉，我有157cm（不到），53kg. 不出意外，你现在应该将要面临最重要的高考了吧，运气好点，就应该在读大一了，或者，已经出来工作了，你应该也和我
钟意
2018.01.13
寄给18岁的邓梦英的一封信
18岁的邓梦英你好： 自我介绍一下，我是13岁的邓梦英，现在在上海合庆中学读初二，有三个很好的闺蜜，卓娉琳，于路瑶，吕喜玉，我有157cm（不到），53kg. 不出意外，你现在应该将要面临最重要的高考了吧，运气好点，就应该在读大一了，或者，已经出来工作了，你应该也和我
钟意
2018.01.13
A letter from past Ripple
I'm the lovely Doraemon~~But I don't come from future, I come from the past. I come from June.3th 2016's world~ I'm past 漪漪~~Haha~~Future Hi
mildseven11
2016.06.03
30岁的诗诗
30岁的诗诗： 您好。生日快乐。诗诗，很喜欢这个昵称呢。很动听。谢卓诗。对吧 ，一直很喜欢这个名字。 今天，30岁了。我在二十岁那年立下的十年计划，今天到了deadline啦。这是当年在饭否上的：所在地：广东自述：生活家@梦想 ：组建我和你的家@-`-`-
sunZ诗
2013.03.31
就是给你看
今天是你的生日 你应该自己也忘记了吧 毕竟基本年年都忘记 哈哈 记住无论遇到什么挫折 只要手上还有一根烟 那么生活才刚刚开始 毕竟下雨的时候连影子也会消失 你是未来的我啊 别让我小看你 起码现在我混得还可以 千万别越混越回去了 我恶心你就是恶
n5503
2020.11.28
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