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
3795 public lettersfor future xinky part.136
第136天，要是天天晚上这么练，我觉得我应该没力气写这个了[图片已丢失]7.2 22:35
过去的星奇
Jul 8, 2017 · Traveled 3 months 23 days
for future xinky part.137
第137天，今早梦见我在玩游戏，规则应该是这样的：每一轮由一个人指定一个关键词，然后抓的人就按这个关键词抓人，大概是和折手指一样的，然后抓的人抱住这个人就算抓住了，然后好像就同化成抓的人了吧，有被这些关键词说到的就不让被抓住就ok了，大概是这样吧，我反正好像是第三轮轮到我然后跑到墙角被抓...而且一
过去的星奇
Jul 8, 2017 · Traveled 3 months 24 days
for future xinky part.138
第138天成绩出来了，有人欢喜有人愁，我。。没什么感觉，就这样了7.5 23:25
过去的星奇
Jul 8, 2017 · Traveled 3 months 25 days
for future xinky part.139
139天，电脑玩手机mc卡的要命看别人倒是挺流畅..手机就不能上服务器..话说没上微信连拿毕业证都不知道...7.6 23:32
过去的星奇
Jul 8, 2017 · Traveled 3 months 26 days
for future xinky part.140
140天，天天散打最后都是洗脑传销xdd那我说一下，万一有人来英武道学馆报名，有散打和套路，介绍人就说许教练，可以打折.......【应该没有吧】那啥，昨天的时间给写错了所以哈哈哈7.7 23:19
过去的星奇
Jul 8, 2017 · Traveled 3 months 27 days
写给未来的…
2017，7月9日，喝得刚刚好，还在被别人的恋情感触，怀疑自己是不是会一辈子就是废人，一生如此，还在努力赚钱还车款，同时又想放弃这个工作，因为太辛苦了，好想休息。但是觉得自己应该是被命运诅咒的人，也没有埋怨，只是默默承受。愿三年后，你能勇敢的面对，不再害怕陌生，不再害怕孤单与嘲笑和数落，做一份能坚持
懒惰的乌克丽丽
Jul 10, 2017 · Traveled 3 years
Photo letter
2020年连着那封信的图片
2017的自己
懒惰的乌克丽丽
Jul 10, 2017 · Traveled 3 years
未来的我会遇到什么烦恼呢
这是一封来自六年前的信，现在的我还在为高考复读所烦恼，两所不同的学校会不会决定我未来的命运，每天无所事事，每天郁郁而过，每段时期都会有每段时期的烦恼吧。但困扰我们的，都是我们自己，所谓庸人自扰。只要看得开，所有的烦恼就都不是烦恼相信一切上天早有安排，一切随缘。六年前的我不善言辞，在暑假期间每天被老妈
n2196
Jul 14, 2017 · Traveled 6 years
来自一年前的忠告
16岁了要懂事多陪伴家人收起小孩子脾气守护好值得的就是正确的加油！
narsha
Jul 14, 2017 · Traveled 1 year
邱雨竹
。狗屁时光邮局 啥都不能发图片图片不行录音录音不行还得让我纯手打。。健康方面。皮肤白皙 每天半颗柠檬能坚持就坚持有人鱼线 没赘肉修养方面。言谈举止风度翩翩自信自律能够博览群书 侃侃而谈心灵善良纯净。。随便吧自强不息工作已经开始兼职写作 我有很不错的几个构思 很希望能坚持下去 不为多少粉丝 只想让其他
n2198
Jul 16, 2017 · Traveled 5 years
雷朝凯
哈喽，现在我应该是大一升大二的学生了，但我现在也不知道你应该在哪里读书，嗯~感觉怪怪的，我也不知道现在的你怎么样，反正你必须得记得我，一年前的我，现在的我，以后的我，无论怎样，我一直都在!
n2200
Jul 18, 2017 · Traveled 1 year
亲爱的自己
不知不觉这是第二封信了。感觉还挺有意思。今天是7月20号星期四，最近整天被一群猴孩子搞得晕头转向。刚刚毕业的我糊里糊涂的找了份工作，不知道当初的选择是错是对，大概决定的太草率没有想的很长远。希望我尽心尽力能做出一点样子，希望未来我们的小岱文能够在泰安发光发亮。家里都说这个工作不稳定，都想让考教师资格
硕哥哥的叽叽喳喳
Jul 20, 2017 · Traveled 1 year
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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