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新年快乐
hi，你知道我是不擅长遣词造句的，那我就随心所欲地写吧。不知道你想做的事、想买的东西有没有做成、有没有得到。不知道你想出的那本书有没有写完，不知道你还是否喜欢你曾经喜欢着的那些人。人都会变化，尤其是你，你变化得很快。我知道你心性凉薄，不轻易跟谁牵扯上什么联系，也不愿意跟谁保持多密切的联系。只要你开心
两面宿傩
Nov 27, 2020 · Traveled 1 month 5 days
彭宝阳的来信
亲爱的宝宝： 新年快乐呀，这是一封来自一个月以前的信。如果一切顺利如愿，你现在应该已经在我怀里睡着了吧，遇见你之后的每一天都过的很充实，很开心。不要担心我会跟别人跑了哈哈哈哈哈，最爱你了，你真的好可爱，怎么舍得离开你呢。总之新年快乐呀～希望年年新年我都能陪伴着你，也希望走到最后的人也是我(＾ω＾)
n5398
Nov 27, 2020 · Traveled 1 month 5 days
愿我们共白头
宝贝，过年了，谢谢你一直陪着我出现在我的身边，我不知道用什么样的话去告诉你我有多爱你，可能会想这一辈子我只想和你在一起那么简单美好，希望我们一起携手度过今年，年年，我希望以后的日子里啊，每天都有你，等我们毕业了我们就一起去很多很多的地方，只要你不分开我的手我就会陪你好久好久，希望我们岁岁年年，共白头
于梦颖
Nov 27, 2020 · Traveled 2 months
写给5年后的我
5年了，未来的我你过的咋样？还用这个QQ吗？也许你不会收到了，也说不定！哈哈！我想那时候你应该结婚了吧，而且应该有孩子了。不过一定要坚强哦！可能人生会有一点挫折，不过你是bboy啊！breaking教你了你面对生活的态度！生活没你想的那么好，也没你想的那么糟糕！5年前的今天写了这封信给你，想想那时候
n5427
Nov 27, 2020 · Traveled 5 years 2 months
写给5年后的我
5年了，未来的我你过的咋样？还用这个QQ吗？也许你不会收到了，也说不定！哈哈！我想那时候你应该结婚了吧，而且应该有孩子了。不过一定要坚强哦！可能人生会有一点挫折，不过你是bboy啊！breaking教你了你面对生活的态度！生活没你想的那么好，也没你想的那么糟糕！5年前的今天写了这封信给你，想想那时候
n5427
Nov 27, 2020 · Traveled 5 years 2 months
徐亚楠你好
你好！2021年的徐亚楠，我希望你可以在专业课上取得优秀的成绩（是前十哦！）可以达到心中的期许、然后瘦下来吧！如果瘦下来了 一定要把之前没有说出来的话传递给他吧，这就当是帮我一个忙好吗，最后祝你新年快乐，平安顺遂。在下一年可以过的开心，再见，祝你好梦
徐亚楠
Nov 28, 2020 · Traveled 1 month 18 days
陈桂轩
新年快乐。你也该18岁了。祝你生日快乐今年我17岁你现在18了。 我是15岁的hm
n5978
Nov 29, 2020 · Traveled 1 year 1 month
陈桂轩
新年快乐。你也该18岁了。祝你生日快乐今年我17岁你现在18了。我是15岁的hm
n5978
Nov 29, 2020 · Traveled 1 year 1 month
来自过去的信
哈哈哈，我猜你看到这个很懵吧，一个月前给你发的，qq时光邮局可能不好用 ，但这个应该可以，马上就要2021年啦，新的一年祝你心想事成，学业进步，所有好运都来临啊哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈
lichenyue
Nov 29, 2020 · Traveled 1 day
天天开心，心想事成
嘿嘿，新年快乐啊！目前的我过的浑浑沌沌，有那么一点小计划，接受了自己是个普通的再也不普通的人，收到这封信的时候，不知道我有没有比之前更进步一点，有没有学会尝试写点东西，会不会有点美学细胞。我目前吃饭还是喜欢带辣，喜欢的作者是Priest，虽然我不太爱看耽美，但是她真的太棒了。想去尝试摄影，想去其他地
n6001
Nov 29, 2020 · Traveled 5 years 2 months
Photo letter
写给哒哒兔
狗赵伟伦 新年快乐呀！ 没想到吧！就是这么迷人可爱呢！ 你老说我脾气不好 说一是一 不得开玩笑 我认真的 19年跨年我说 祝你一直爱我 我说 娶我不行吗 意思是 从心动到古稀年老时 我们依旧相爱 是想和你虚度光阴 现在我爱你 （什么时候惹我生气不喜欢你这个狗东西我就不给你写了 ）
一身鲸鱼味
Nov 29, 2020 · Traveled 1 year 1 month
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
Nov 29, 2020 · Traveled 2 months 14 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