On New Year's Eve, Write to Next Year's You
On the last night of the year, every feed fills up with year-in-review posts and resolutions. Be honest: how many of those are remembered by March? Maybe the real point of New Year's Eve isn't a loud goodbye but a quiet handover — formally passing this year's you to the next. December 31st is one of the busiest writing nights here every year. Some people turn their year-end review into a letter, addressed to themselves on this same night next year. Some seal up three resolutions and treat next year's opening like a prize drawing. And some just want to say, over the sound of fireworks: this time next year, I hope you're doing better than I am tonight. Unlike a post, this letter has exactly one reader — the you of one year from now. There's no audience, so there's no performing, and that's what makes it honest. Below are New Year's letters people chose to share. This year, after the countdown, leave one behind for the same night next year.
Ideas to get you started
- Sum up the year in three words, then explain why those three. It's the first thing next-year-you will flip to.
- Write three resolutions — but concrete ones. Not "get rich" but "save 30,000." Only checkable wishes are fun to grade.
- Set the scene: who you're counting down with, where you are, whether there are fireworks outside. A year on, this is the part with the most texture.
- Schedule it for next December 31st, and you've started your own New Year tradition.
Real letters from the vault
144 public letters
Photo letter
一封可爱的祝福请接收
无事绊心弦，所念皆如愿希望我的朋友们，新的一年所行化坦途，多喜乐，长安宁大家都要加油捏~~~以后会越来越好哒！也不知道这一年有没有收获，希望我和我的朋友已经富裕起来了，冲冲冲！爱泥~~~ ———格子
lili1
Jan 19, 2024 · Traveled 11 months 12 days
Photo letter
写给未来的...你
无事绊心弦，所念皆如愿希望我的朋友们，新的一年所行化坦途，多喜乐，长安宁大家都要加油捏~~~以后会越来越好哒！也不知道这一年有没有收获，希望我和我的朋友已经富裕起来了，冲冲冲！爱泥~~~ ———格子
lili1
Jan 19, 2024 · Traveled 11 months 12 days
新年快乐
今天收到了来自2020年四月的信件，那时候以为未来会有很多时空胶囊，结果只有一封，甚至晚了整整三年多。2020年的事情我都不太记得了。只记得八月份暑假去了趟北海道，玩得很开心。然后21年和22年都是挺难受的两年吧。23年过得挺拧巴的，但是也感觉成长了不少。心境上面来说，自己不是一成不变的。22年11
karson
Jan 20, 2024 · Traveled 11 months 12 days
24年，请眷顾你我！
意外收到postoMe，整个人愣住了。时间过去五年，这五年成长，成熟，经历了，难过了，释怀了，一切晓得那么渺小又那么真切。我们都是平凡人吧……愿本命年的24年，一切都顺利，某哥的创业之路更上一层楼，我的事业也顺顺利利，再创新高，宝贝能快乐成长
n3794
Jan 22, 2024 · Traveled 1 year
写给未来的...
马上就2024年啦。一年又过去啦，回想今年的事情，你也努力啦一年，这一年时间，你也在改变自己，也在努力的奋斗，为了家庭，为了孩子，为了以后，加油把！今年房子也开始装修啦，孩子也越来越大啦，你也28啦。未来的路靠你自己努力！希望你能够快乐，希望你再次看到这封信的时候，你已经不敢说大富大贵，最起码外债得
L1Dog
Jan 20, 2024 · Traveled 2 years
一年后的自己
帅祥你好，在这个即将过年的日子里我写下了这封信，正在啃鸭脖，不知道以后看到还能不能想起这件事，不知道你以后有没有和更好看的妹子谈恋爱呢，有没有找到自己人生的目标，有没有练会更多的钢琴呢，我很希望你能变的更好，长高了吗，看到这封信的时候开心吗，请看完记得回信哦
电线杆z
Feb 3, 2024 · Traveled 1 year
曾经
真不明白你每天都在干什么 会想起我吗 记得我们的美好时光吗 会不会梦到我 想起曾经那些美好时光 时光荏苒 我们不再是当年的我们了 但是我希望你一切都好 如果你还有一点点怀念我的话 那你把qq个性签名改成一个句号 让我知道你过得很好 可以吗 快过年了 祝你新年快乐
n2663
Feb 4, 2024 · Traveled 1 day
你好2024的沈聆悦
写给亲爱的自己： 展信佳 你好呀这位熟悉又陌生的朋友，2024这一年过得还好吗？有活成自己想成为的样子嘛哈哈哈，比如减肥成功变美变得有气质，比如过了四六级和计算机二级，又比如找到了一丝关于人生的方向？我相信你一直在为这些而努力着，可能有些确实没实现，但我相信你也是很棒的。人生是旷野不是轨道，你尽可以
沈聆悦
Feb 9, 2024 · Traveled 1 day
我自己给自己
嗯，我现在是2024年2月20日，你还活着吗，如果还活着的话，你看到这封信的时候应该是除夕晚上了吧，明天应该是春节了，现在正在下着雪，还带着些许的雨，有点冷，电脑桌对着窗户，外面的冷风吹的我的手冰凉，妈妈正在小屋和小祥祥的妈妈拉呱呢，我心中感到无比的安静，所以我写了这么一封信。哥，喊你一声哥应该不过
魏文强
Feb 20, 2024 · Traveled 11 months 8 days
又是一年啊
咳咳 新的一年快乐 希望我越来越好哈哈 祝福你什么事情的越来越顺利！！！！！！！！！！
241637805
Apr 3, 2024 · Traveled 8 months 29 days
是时候定下自己的目标咯
新年快乐，新的一年，列下自己的目标，寄到一年后核对吧～
raydalew
Aug 28, 2024 · Traveled 4 months 4 days
橙子的信嘻
你好啊家辉嘿嘿，新年快乐最近过得怎么样啊，快乐吗？过得好不好生活很愉快嘛，每天都要开开心心哦，我好想你啊愿安好 橙子
橙子1
Aug 29, 2024 · Traveled 4 months 28 days
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from a list of resolutions?
A plan is written for present-you to execute; this letter is written for future-you to read. It doesn't need to be achieved — only honest. That's why it outlives every resolution list.
I missed New Year's Eve. Too late?
Not at all. The first days of January — even the whole month — work fine. Just set delivery for next New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. The ritual lives in the arrival, not the writing.
What if none of my wishes come true — won't the letter sting?
Most people find the opposite: what moves them isn't whether the wishes landed, but rediscovering how last year's self actually thought. The unfinished wishes simply go into the next letter.
On New Year's Eve, Write to Next Year's You
Write yours