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 lettersfor future xinky part.167
167天，我真的被无脑小学生气到了，违反群规不说，我禁言，还骂我，然后退群还举报我，然后趁我不在进群里没改名，还tm@我说小号很多，还说没举报我，我都气的不知道该说什么，终于知道这种人为什么会被骂了8.6 22:50
过去的星奇
2017.08.15
for 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
2017.08.15
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
2017.08.15
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
2017.08.15
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
2017.08.15
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
43242
2017.08.16
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，8-2
干你
2017.08.18
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
魏延坤
2017.08.18
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
n2355
2017.08.22
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
rosey
2017.08.22
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
哼哼猪
2017.08.23
致现在这个你
嘿: 自我介绍一下，我是十年前的你，九月一号上初二。 你还好吗?你今天23岁了哟，生日快乐! 你已经完成十年前我的愿望上了复旦医学院，当了医生吗？没有的话也没有关系，你的路你有权自己选择。对了，你有一个帅帅的男朋友了吗？嗯…没有也没关系，
n2364
2017.08.25
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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