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写给未来的李振轩
你好周杰伦的歌还有在听吗这一个学期辛苦你了，因为暑假的我希望自己的未来能有更多选择你一定很累吧我希望，你能在坚持一个学期，我们的理想元旦快乐
n8058
2022.07.12
中秋快乐
原来今天是中秋节，回想三年前 大半夜的跑出去给你拍月亮看哈哈哈，那个场景真是让人开心呢，中秋快乐 我上完这一周就要军训了，我补想军训呢😭
1170798127
2024.09.17
写给想要真正改变自己的你
新年开始。我决定要学好英语，并且一往无前！为了出境德国。为了丰富自己的生活。一定要加油！！！不再沉溺。不再拖延！做自己觉得有意义的事！
n2895
2018.04.25
写给未来的刘玉欣
hello！大姐姐新年快乐哦~猜猜我是谁？哈哈，我是几年前的你哦(´-ω-`)唔，，，我猜你现在是一个被生活折磨得体无完肤的职场菜鸟
朽木未茵
2018.06.10
写给未来的…
明天你好，明天就是年三十了，时间过得是真的很快，我今年的新年愿望是1、家人身体健康2、脱单3、拿到驾驶证
n6485
2021.02.10
hi,su
你看到这封信的时候应该是又回到学校了把，过完年的你怎么样，一切还好吗？对新的一年有哪些新的展望么？
sususu
2019.11.14
写给狗毛的一封信
狗毛子 非常开心能够认识你 能这么聊的开的男生朋友没几个 首先祝你新的一年快乐 你现在还在谈恋爱吗
n2307
2017.07.30
2021的张译心
如果没错的话，今天应该是2021年的第一天！新的一年，我们一定还会在一起！新年快乐哦，宝贝子！
n6112
2020.11.30
5年前的你
嘿，快要过年了，五年前的你第一次去了厦门打工，为了实现你未完成的梦。五年过去了，你实现了吗？
玉米
2020.12.01
写给未来的…
三个月了，你过的怎么样，三个月之前我寄了这封邮件。我想你了，不知道会不会想起来我，新年快乐
こ胡胡呀
2016.10.02
祝中华人民共和国成立100周年
在中华人民共和国成立75周年期间（虽然快年底了），提前祝中华人民共和国成立100周年！
3580305140
2024.12.21
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
2024.04.03
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