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
4434 public letters自己
中考没考好不代表你的人生失败我要重来为自己的人生
n2149
2017.06.27
for future xinky part.131
第131天，把昨天和前天搞混了，所以昨天没了邮件，也没想再发了【昨天干嘛来着？？】反正今天的事就很气，发这个出现了undefined？？？exm？？6.27 22:04
过去的星奇
2017.06.27
你现在怎么样了？
现在的你，估计毕业了吧？还在喜欢二次元吗？还依然萌着白鹊吗？王者荣耀那时候还在不在？真心觉得那个时候你已经换QQ了，但我却乐此不彼地给你写信。 来介绍一下吧。我叫黄语瞳，是以前的你，三年前的你，赌八毛你忘记了。 你现在有没有在抽烟喝酒，谈男朋友？如果有
黄语瞳
2017.06.28
阿雄
你2w5的车有没有你有钱吗你女朋友有没有你大学考上了吗你有好好努力吗别忘了最初的梦想妈妈生意成功了吗
好昵称不重要
2017.06.28
啦啦啦，大笨蛋
嗨，不知道要怎么称呼你才好，毕竟我是在给自己写信呀，嗯，现在是你高二生涯的最后一个星期，过了这个星期就可以考试放假回家了
n2152
2017.06.29
写给未来的自己
三个月以后的我，你好。在十一之前，希望自己可以如愿瘦到160斤。已经六年没这样轻过了。
n2153
2017.06.29
写给未来的自己
未来的自己，三个月过去了。你们还是朋友吗？你们的关系有更进一步吗？如果得不到回应，希望你放下吧。
n2153
2017.06.29
二十年后你
2037年，39岁的你，是否活成了理想中的样子？有钱了，有了你的川崎大牛，牧马人还有野马，身边的朋友多了谁又少了谁？孩子多大了，是不是快中考了？你现在的爱人是谁，是否是你当时喜欢的你？是不是你理想中的爱情？父母是否身体安康在老家，安乐的生活着？还是你还在庸碌的生活着，如果没有活成
杨钟意
2017.06.30
你好，33岁的胡雅丽
你好，33岁的胡雅丽。你现在过的幸福吗，有可爱的小宝贝了吧。嫁给爱情了吗，后悔过吗。相信你一定不会后悔，你一定遇到了深爱你的人，才会甘心把自己交付给他吧。你们一起去了哪些地方，环游世界的梦想还记得吗，护照该到期了吧，都签满签证了吗。宝宝乖吗，一定不像你爱闹脾气吧。现在的你还是你想
小小晓晓大小
2017.06.30
无论你飞黄腾达开始贫困潦倒你都要看一看三年前的你自己
此时的你阅读的事是三年前你在在石家庄跑市场，和旭哥在一起，他去了厕所你找不到他了，你突然看到空间和的一条动态活动写的，那个时候的你充满梦想，敢于拼搏，放弃了走向平凡人的安逸生活，和旭哥在外奔波，石家庄的天比淄博还热，你一天喝了两升的水杯两杯，你为了未来美好的生活奔波，未来是什么你
n2156
2017.06.30
给三年后的邓良涛
邓良涛你是否和薛莉彬已经在一起了，还是依旧保持那种若即若离的朋友关系还是连朋友的没有做成呢？该戒的东西你戒了没，现在的样子是否更糟糕，有没有考到全班第一?有没有希望上本科呢？
XLB
2017.07.01
8月24
生日快乐，我知道没人会庆祝你的生日，可你自己要对自己好一点。
XLB
2017.07.01
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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