When It Hurts, Write to the You Who Made It Through
Some kinds of pain are hard to hand to anyone. Telling friends feels like being a burden; telling family means making them worry; posting it online is too exposed. So it stays lodged in your chest, replaying at 2 a.m., getting heavier each time. Writing it down is one of the most consistently proven ways to loosen that knot — and writing it to your future self adds something more: a quiet assumption, built right into the envelope, that a day will come when you're out the other side, calm enough to read this. People have written here on the night of a breakup, in the week they were laid off, from a hospital bed, and after losing someone they couldn't imagine losing. Most of these letters were sealed in tears. But opened a year later, nearly all of them say the same thing back: you made it through. Below are letters their writers chose to make public — because they wanted whoever is hurting right now to know this road has been walked before, all the way to the other end.
How to write this letter
- Don't compose — pour. The hurt, the anger, the fear, exactly as they are. This letter has no other reader; it doesn't need to be presentable.
- Write down what actually happened. The pain will fade, but what you went through deserves to be remembered truthfully.
- Give future-you one small, gentle assignment: eat at that hotpot place for me. Get a full night's sleep for me.
- If someone is being kind to you right now, put them in the letter. When you're through this, remember to thank them.
Real letters from the vault
733 public letters与你一信
昨天睡的很晚，以前也有这样的状况。睡不着的时候，想了想白天看的书。要不要找个朋友陪伴一下呢？嗯，那就自己陪伴自己，毕竟，他是我长久而又真诚的朋友，还让他拉一把，也不用客气的。松弛感，一个不远不近的词。忙碌的时候，乐在其中；闲暇的时候，悠哉悠哉。今天上午的时候，又是悠哉的美滋滋。外
liuzhengqiqq
2024.09.14
写给未来的周子健
你好，未来等我，生日快乐，现在是2024年10月18日等凌晨。未来的你过的怎么样呢，开心吗，有女朋友了吗，还和之前的朋友在一起吗，或者说，你还记得她嘛，记得那个让你无比难忘的女孩，李乐嘉，不知道你是否已经释怀了呢，我现在过得并不是很开心，我太懦弱胆小里 好多喜欢的东西没有能力拿到
用户7686897689
2024.10.18
新年快乐呀宝宝，天天开心
婷婷，祝你新年快乐呀，哈哈没想到我们真的能分开，emmm，今天是你和我分开的第二天，也就是8月25号，我说实话，我真的很舍不得你，可是我们好像没有退路了，为什么爱意会逐渐消失呢，我想是我没有好好在意你的情绪吧，不知道你现在是怎么样呢，过得还开心嘛，一日三餐还是要好好吃，也要好好学
n8561
2024.09.25
要开心，要快乐，要幸福
两年没了朋友五年没了热血八年没了最爱的姑娘往事历历在目错过一辆车可以等错过一顿饭可以再约可是错过一个人是一辈子的遗憾你是山河，是梦里南柯，是目之所及不可得，是我昼夜不舍 。今生无缘做你的枕边人，只能在心里陪你到老，其实我们都很好，只是翻不过现实，短暂的爱情，却爱你入了心。无论我们
海云呐
2020.11.28
无标题
刚刚重新写了一遍，觉得没啥好写的，我现在的态度好听点叫洒脱，难听点叫颓废。觉得人生太苦了。疫情期间在家里呆着太久了，感觉负能量爆棚。什么时候开始家成了负能量的聚集地，我不知道，但我觉得回到家里就要面对很现实的成长，很无力的感觉，很无力。我不想去制定什么计划了，走一步算一步，走一步
乾支Joey
2020.02.22
你依然是我坚持下去的美好
我要你记住，永远并且无时无刻的不提醒你。你只能被囚禁，不配拥有爱。我要你记住，爱情使人堕落。你不能拥有爱。 你怕未来？你怕面对人？你怕大家的离开和耻笑？你真是软弱啊！让我代替你吧！这么软弱的人不配叫文涛，我会让你变强大的。不就是假装演戏吗？我做得到！我
wuli纯纯的巧克力牛奶
2019.03.04
100天的等待
100天过去了，一切都顺利吗？现在应该入冬了吧？暖洋洋的阳光照在身上，心情也是明媚的。没有过不去的坎，光阴会引领你在未知的道路上，勇往直前。一生之中，总有顺心和糟心的时候，这便是生活的意义。吃过的亏会变成经验教训，也不算亏。浪费的时间，回头看看真的是在浪费生命。从现在起，振作起来
n3356
2018.08.14
加油
今天是一月28号，除夕夜，在俱乐部里思考前路，依照无望。（7/12）你们懂不懂那种，就是看清了，却还想继续当兵的感觉吗，就是，你已经找到答案了，但你还是舍不得，一边内耗，一边自愈，一会儿想通，一会又想不通，反反复复，患得患失，折磨自己，某一瞬间情绪上头，失眠，崩溃，心痛，这种滋味
n8550
2025.09.04
Ruru,你现在怎么样了
你今天打电话给爸爸了，你哭了。爸爸和你说了很多。你什么时候不难过的五年了，你现在怎么样了？看到信的时候，记得回信哦。你哭了好多好多，你眼泪真多。时间过去很久了，你还记得昨晚和他说的话吗？你半夜和妈妈哭，妈妈安慰你。今天下雨了，你站在阳台，看着窗外的雨水，觉得冷。你好好的，照顾好自
Ruru
2017.06.05
明年见
你现在过得好吗？我现在不知道怎么办，别人都说我考不上高中 我自己觉得也是 我想出去打工 想回老家 最近总是莫名其妙的想哭 不知道怎么回事 考不上高中就考不上高中吧 我现在也不在意了 今天去拍毕业照 拍照的说我没神 上一年拍照的说我笑的好假 我自己都没有觉得 但我就是不开心 不想笑
林筱冉
2020.06.18
来自...年前的时光邮件，请查收
我希望两年后的我们可以变得更好，不会再像这样一直不说话了。我这几天好想你。不知道未来看见这封信你会不会还在我身边，我想一直陪着你，一直。今天我又想哭了，因为你解除了我们qq情侣关系，我以为我们还可以像以前那样，但是我发现我们都成熟了，起码你成熟了，我还不想成长，哎。希望你还陪着我
n5677
2024.01.17
一封麟写给涵的信
我希望两年后的我们可以变得更好，不会再像这样一直不说话了。我这几天好想你。不知道未来看见这封信你会不会还在我身边，我想一直陪着你，一直。今天我又想哭了，因为你解除了我们qq情侣关系，我以为我们还可以像以前那样，但是我发现我们都成熟了，起码你成熟了，我还不想成长，哎。希望你还陪着我
n5677
2024.01.17
Frequently Asked Questions
Will anyone else be able to read this?
No. Letters are private by default — only you, on delivery day, can open it. Going public is entirely your choice; every letter on this page was shared deliberately by its writer.
Does writing it down actually help?
Expressive writing has a substantial body of psychology research behind it. Many users describe the moment they hit "seal" as physically handing over part of the weight.
What if, a year from now, I don't want to be reminded?
All that arrives is a notification — whether you open the letter, and when, is up to you. For what it's worth, most people report reading theirs with a smile.
What if things feel really serious right now?
A letter can keep you company, but it's no substitute for professional help. If what you're feeling is affecting your daily life, please reach out to a counselor or a mental health helpline where you live.
When It Hurts, Write to the You Who Made It Through
Write yours