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.169
169天，这次练鞭腿和蹬腿啊，挖了个擦，左手这现在碰一下就疼。。也不下脚轻点..四川地震了，bbs也给报了，祝福祝福，希望能重新振作起来！！2017年8月8日
过去的星奇
Aug 15, 2017 · Traveled 3 months 17 days
for future xinky part.170
170天，散打班一个个都没来，一个个都要走了，最后会剩下多少人呢(=ﾟДﾟ=) 8.9 23:11
过去的星奇
Aug 15, 2017 · Traveled 3 months 18 days
for future xinky part.171
171天，泽鹏叫去王者，说带我，结果是被打(ಡωಡ)hiahiahia 毛教练你可要回来啊，我一个人承受不来～ ～(￣▽￣～)~ 8.10 22:09
过去的星奇
Aug 15, 2017 · Traveled 3 months 19 days
for future xinky part.173
173天，诸事不顺，去了一个又一个，丹也有好的，就是我本来不舍得搞掉了也被搞掉了8.12 23:33
过去的星奇
Aug 15, 2017 · Traveled 3 months 21 days
最好的你
嗨，最近过得好吗 你目前的体重是61~63kg 我希望在这一年里你有好好的管理你的体重 我也希望这一年你重新振作了 你现在还在YHD在一起吗如果还在一起我希望你分开 当然像你这么不走心的人我的提醒可能也是多余 你应该快要上班了吧 好好工作才能负担起自己喜欢的东西 我希望你 勿忘初心 方得始终。
43242
Aug 16, 2017 · Traveled 1 year
Photo letter
给可爱的自己
我专门选在4 年之后，就是因为我知道这时候你已经在上研究生了，我不知道你经过了一年的研究生的学习学到了啥，想必也没啥东西。这张照片是我能找到最近的一张和我兄弟们的照片了实在是没有什么自己的照片哈哈哈哈，真是想见一见自己那时候会是啥样子呢，肯定很有趣，肯定是我意想不到的样子，8-28 我的大二学期就开
干你
Aug 18, 2017 · Traveled 4 years
Photo letter
你好哇，29岁的我
你好哇，29岁的我： 先祝你生日快乐。 我猜，应该收到我的礼物了。 这几天我一直在想，29岁的我生日那天应该收到什么样的礼物才是最棒的呢。琢磨半天，还是由我送你一副强壮的身体最为有意义，因为这是我20岁开始的时候就希望拥有的，哈哈，终于在2字头的末尾实现了，不过也很棒了，对吧。希望你可以一直保持下去
魏延坤
Aug 18, 2017 · Traveled 1 year 3 months
你还爱她么 那个叫zwx的女孩
这封信写于2017年8月22日凌晨1点 此时你正躺在床上 听着她的歌单 努力思考着自己到底有没有机会追到她 该怎么追 此时你心里开心 你又找到了当年追zf的那种感觉 此时你心里难过 你怕她就是第二个zf 永远得不到缺朝思暮想的人我祝愿这时的你已经向她表达了心意 她答没答应不重要 千万不要留下遗憾 也
n2355
Aug 22, 2017 · Traveled 2 years 9 months
A letter from my 20th birthday
Hello!Stranger~I konw it`s not inappropriate to call you stranger,sometimes i even don`t know me at all,let alone me after five years.So,the person wr
rosey
Aug 22, 2017 · Traveled 5 years
这是一封来自三年前的信
未来的我： 嗨你好！我是三年前的你，现在的我明天就要步入高中。 三年以后的现在，你应该已经高中毕业了吧，而现在的我对于高中还是一片茫然，不知过程不明结果。现在的你对于大学也是这样的感觉吧。 现在的你还好吗？三年里你有没有对某个人印象深刻？你老哥怎么样了？你最后报了哪所大学呢？三年里有做过什么惊天地的
哼哼猪
Aug 23, 2017 · Traveled 2 years 10 months
Photo letter
你还爱吗
其实我今天给你寄这封信是想知道你是用哪种方式爱着灿烈的。今天才是你真正入圈的日子。现在的我在写小说，我不敢看哥哥们的视频了，不然我会崩掉。我爱着哥哥们，可是我不敢面对他们！我不敢面对舞台上的他们，一看见他们无数双隐形的手就把我拉回到地狱，回到那个真空的地方，没有一丝氧气。我很害怕我这样会坚持不下去，
wuli纯纯的巧克力牛奶
Aug 27, 2017 · Traveled 8 months 4 days
张呈岭收
呼呼...怎么说呢，这算是写给多年后的自己吧，但也像是一份总结? 想写这个很久了，大概从...拖了一年多吧 一开始想着记录下想写的东西但也因为自己的拖延癌╮(╯▽╰)╭怠惰啊...所以只能想到啥写啥嘞~ 说到拖延，其实就是懒吧，关于自己追溯到最早的记忆，找得到懒惰，因为这份懒惰影响着自己的观念， 现
前枣子
Aug 29, 2017 · Traveled 3 years
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
Write yours