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.
How to write this letter
- 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
188 public letters元旦快乐。
你还活着吗？如果你能看到，那么恭喜你survive 2017。跟学姐还有联系吗，施逸枫？或者有交到女朋友吗？在日本还是在中国？新年和谁一起过？还是说一如既往的独身一人？不要担心，这么多年，不都这么过来了，祝你survive2018。以上。
FlexQQQQ
2017.01.20
想和你过这这个冬天
我这么久了也有在好好生活啦，和她在一起也蛮好的，只是没那种热情了，感觉不会再那么爱一个人了，那是和你在一起才有的感觉，算算下来也一个月了，如果你也和我一样忘不了我，你就回来找我，我们从新开始好吗，我不想再错过了，和我一起跨年好吗
n8379
2022.12.01
给老琦的一封信 2025.9.3
今年最后一天，我100000000%依然爱你，元旦能不能在一起过呀？不过，幸好这周五你就能来找我了，干什么我不能说哈哈哈，3个月前是你来到哈尔滨上学之后第一次来找我，嘻嘻。不知道这三个月里我们关系好不好，你还来不来找我😚
2377684393
2025.09.03
歪?
歪?你好吗?我是须匙!你现在初三了吧?过几个月就要中考了?加油啊!为了前三百!家里还好吗?小孩们呢?二次还好吗?入新坑了吧?我现在还是凹凸哦画画进步了吧?认识新的小伙伴了吗?去展子了吗?被人夸了吗?新一年加油呀!新年快乐!
一把须匙
2018.02.03
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
2024.08.29
写给100天后的自己
今天大年初三了，学习薄荷也快一百天了，我希望这个时候我英语进步很大，使我出国的心更坚定也更有信心。也希望我工作已经很熟练并且有正处于上升突破期，钱也都还完了并且存有一定的钱，遇到另一半，感谢自己一直以来的努力和坚持！
n3622
2018.11.07
写给曹萧幻宝贝
亲爱的宝贝: 专属于你的新年祝福信已送达祝你在新的一年暴富暴美，好运爆棚！！最重要的是找到你想要的那个男朋友呀！！！开开心心，快快乐乐，学习嘎嘎好！！
lyr
2022.12.18
写给3年后的你（雷一帆）
亲爱的雷先生你好，我是来自2021年的冯豆豆，今天是2021年的春节，是咱们在一起过得第一个年，我特意看了，在2024年事2月10号过年，新年的烟花，还有情人节，元宵节，不知道在2024年是否我还陪在你身边，希望还在吧
n6441
2021.02.09
cbh
2016.12.15昨天买了回去的车票考试完了那天生日 和宋若晨去武汉12号就到家了！！！新的一年 在去年的最后的一天你在干嘛呢？今天周四 下午乐理课 又要周末了还有十天就回家了
n1690
2016.12.15
2024已过，2025可期
2024尽管不如愿，失败。但是我还年轻，2025来年再战必胜。 对别人和事物 要乐观和大度。 对自己要 有目标，阶段性目标。能力｛全栈，破百｝ 干，往死里干。｛必胜的信念，不屈的意志｝。
2433267092
2025.01.21
亲爱的 朋友
你好呀，最近生活还顺利吗？我们都认识四年了诶，我们也很久很久没讲过话了。记得疫情刚开始的时候你让我保护好自己，现在我烧到38.5度意识模糊晕头转向，脑子里想的只有你千万要健健康康。另外祝你平安夜快乐啊，永远都平安。
n8382
2022.12.19
呦新年快乐
呦吼铁汁新年快乐啊买到想要的鞋没上到想上的小姑娘没后几年还得好好学习我仍认为我们接受高等教育的目的是为了帮助我们的家乡摆脱贫困而不是为了摆脱我们贫困的家生如蝼蚁当有鸿鹄之志为天地立心为百姓立命祝你也祝我加油杜
杜
2020.11.29
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