Write a Letter to Your Future Self
Writing a letter to your future self can sound a little precious — until you actually do it. It isn't a diary. A diary records what already happened; this letter is addressed to someone who doesn't exist yet: the you of one year, five years, ten years from now. Somewhere in the writing, you'll catch yourself asking questions you never slow down for. What do I actually care about right now? Who do I hope that person becomes? What's the one thing only today's me can tell them? Plenty of people say they found their answer the moment they hit "seal." Below are real letters that writers chose to share with the world. Read a few — chances are you'll know exactly what you want to say.
Ideas to get you started
- Start with right now: today's date, where you're sitting, what just happened. The forgettable details are exactly what future-you will treasure.
- Ask your future self a few questions. Did you finally do the thing? Is that person still around? Questions travel through time better than statements.
- Include a promise or an inside joke only the two of you share. It'll land perfectly on opening day.
- Don't aim for polished. A rambling honest letter beats a tidy generic one every time.
Real letters from the vault
4433 public lettersfor future xinky part.63
第六十三天，下午下了场大雨呢！然而并没有什么卵用，蓄了几小时的势，然后开始密集的一块地一块地下了起来，然后就下的很大了，过了十几分钟就停了！？？ 就好像，除了这事也没什么可以bb的了 4.18 20:07
过去的星奇
2017.04.18
for future xinky part.64
第六十四天，md默写错了三个字，看来没希望了，我可能没救了，背什么忘什么，我记得要回家找什么资料的然后也忘了羡慕某猪直升，QAQ我们这也有就好了4.19 21:25
过去的星奇
2017.04.19
写给未来的我
Dear FutureMe,天哪 不敢相信现在做自媒体1个月了，正在等待头条的原创审核。如果是一年后，自媒体应该相当成功了吧！最起码有3000粉丝！期待！希望一直做下去，不要间断！然后最近迷上了日剧，昨天晚上刚熬夜看了《东京女子图鉴》，前段时间看了《四重奏》。怎么说，还是更喜欢四
n2019
2017.04.20
2年的蜕变
1.嘿，傻傻的自己，我多想抱一抱两年前的你，在两年前的今天，早上不到5点就醒来了，发现头发还是没有被吹风机吹直，逼着自己不得不接受自己头发拉不直的现实，就算用吹风机吹直了，效果也和普通的不一样，逼着自己去接受整个大学都不能拥有一个美美的，自己幻想了无数次的头发，因为要等两年，头发
n2021
2017.04.21
for future xinky part.65
no.65时间好快哦，尤其是写了这东西，越发感觉时间流逝得快最近几天都是下一会雨就停，似乎并没有想让天空变蓝的意思4.20 20:28
过去的星奇
2017.04.25
for future xinky part.66
第六十六天，下午雨是特别大啊，⁽˙³˙⁾◟(๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)◞⁽˙³˙⁾既然要下雨就全部下完不就好了嘛，还要留一些。。。我猜我明天出去肯定下雨，没出去就聚势⁽˙³˙⁾◟(๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)◞⁽˙³˙ 看书真的会沉迷的啊，沉迷格列佛无法自拔 4.21 20:43
过去的星奇
2017.04.25
for future xinky part.67
第六十七天，早知道就不出去了，可怜的我又受伤了( •̥́ ˍ •̀ू ) 我碰到坏事自然有人有好事(✪▽✪) 澈生日快乐!(^O^)y4.22 21:16
过去的星奇
2017.04.25
for future xinky part.68
第六十八天，下午出去听说其他人也遇到不顺心的事了，我瞬间“平衡”了(ಡωಡ)hiahiahia 然后就没了，某试卷也没搞到 梵星似乎不怎么OK啊( •̥́ ˍ •̀ू )qq群能出个等级管理就好了，给这个管理一些权限，给那个管理一些权限 4.23 20:58
过去的星奇
2017.04.25
for future xinky part.69
第六十九天，这天我又忘了写， 但是我还记得我这晚知道作业帮有个玩竞答的游戏，然后我就迷上了诗词竞答，尽管我什么也不会，这个时候应该@zzy她懂得多啊，然后我就背下了这首诗，诗名忘了xdddd挽弓当挽强，用箭当用长。射人先射马，擒贼先擒王4.25 20：:56
过去的星奇
2017.04.25
for future xinky part.70
第七十天，诗词竞赛无法自拔，前世作孽得某同桌，人工zz真厉害，话说看小说也能学古诗啊，这两首都是我看小说提到的所以才会喜欢上，下面是又迷上的新诗和张仆射塞下曲·其二作者：卢纶 (唐代)林暗草惊风，将军夜引弓。平明寻白羽，没在石棱中。4.25 21:00
过去的星奇
2017.04.25
今天的你
嘿！三年了，今天的你还好吗？小孩会走了吧？写这封信的时候小屁孩才十几天呢！如果会像个跟尾虫一样跟在你身后喊爸爸了吧！父母身体怎样了？还像三年前一样好吗？ 如果今天你的生活条件还是没得改善那你真的该好好努力了，光阴几十年，有多少个三年呢！努力过后的生活才是最充实的，不要再继续
陈大文
2017.04.27
黄小姐 你还好吗
黄小姐 生日快乐！最近还好吗 你记得这封信吗 29岁的你又是什么模样呢你还爱听歌吗 风格变了吗 还有多少朋友在你身边 你 结婚了吗你 满意29岁的自己吗 你 还记得初心吗我想和你讲讲24岁的你 我怕时间太久会忘记 我怕你会和现在的自
vivi黄
2017.04.28
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I send it?
One year and five years are the most popular. For your first letter, go with one year — far enough to forget what you wrote, close enough to stay excited. Once you're hooked, try ten.
Can I reread my letter after sending it?
No. Once sealed, not even you can open it before delivery day. That's by design — so the surprise stays intact when it finally arrives.
How do I know I'll actually receive it years from now?
On delivery day you'll get both an email and a text message. Every letter also comes with a 6-digit claim code as a safety net — even if your contact info changes, the code gets you in.
Write a Letter to Your Future Self
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