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
4454 public letters
Photo letter
写给半年之后的自己
我是李朋，现在的我还在廊坊出差。从3月3号来廊坊，到现在来这里已经有一个多月了，来之前给我规定的任务是25W，到现在我刚刚完成了139610元。我不知道这个数字都薇姐和么老师是什么概念。因为邢台、衡水、张家口这几个办事处的任务都是20W，就廊坊比其他地方多5W，可能是跟唐山全年的任务量比较大有关系吧
渐行渐远
Apr 6, 2013 · Traveled 6 months
Photo letter
写给25岁的你
嘿 亲爱的， 25岁的李引。 收到这封信请不要讶异，我是来自2013年19岁的李引。时间过得好快，5年了，今天是你25岁的生日，祝美丽的你生日快乐！ 5年前的你，还是一个已经大一即将跨入大二的学生。读着一个高不成低不就并且毫无兴趣不小心手指一抖报错了的专业。觉得很奇怪吧 , 现在还能想起来吗? 不过
李引不是这个颖
Apr 6, 2013 · Traveled 5 years 7 months
Photo letter
给两年后的自己
俩年后的自己，不知变成一个什么样的人？大专毕业后是否坚持着16岁时的梦想，梦想着在二十岁时变成白富美 有车有房 。不愁未来的道路，整天梦想着看到以后的未来。梦想着靠自己的双手去开创自己的未来。与同龄人不一样的生活观·价值观。一直想要改变自己，突破自己，想要让以后的自己活得更好，不愿辜负父母对自己的期
GUOCHUNQIN
Apr 6, 2013 · Traveled 1 year 11 months
Photo letter
未来的你，还记得现在的你吗
未来的你，过的好么？有没有，和她在一起？
n83
Apr 6, 2013 · Traveled 5 years
写给未来的…
嗨，25岁的刘悦曦。收到这封信的时候你在干嘛呢？在听歌吃饭还是在繁忙的工作或者在异国街头。你看，你觉得你现在改变了什么，变世俗了还是成熟了?5年前，你还是一个遇事浮躁、不淡定容易生气的女生，你对现在自己的比较满意吗？我知道你在一点点的改变，现在的你一定是当初20岁憧憬的样子，遇事成熟淡定、活的优雅，
n84
Apr 6, 2013 · Traveled 5 years
写给未来的…
生日快乐哟！很不情愿地满24岁了，可以说是开始衰老的年龄了。那有什么办法呢，以后还有胸部下垂、发福、满脸长皱纹、驼背的年龄呢。可是，还没有好好地化妆，穿上漂亮的衣服去哪里走走，或是旅行，还没有开始实现什么梦想，怎能说老就老呢？今天去吃饭，看到穿着校服的高中生三三两两地坐在一起吃快餐，觉得好羡慕那些“
bingodebingo
Apr 6, 2013 · Traveled 1 day
写给你，未来的我
hey，未来的我：不知你现在如何，毕设应该成功了吧？一切我还以为无比揪心的事对你来说是否都什么也不算。我要努力成为你，所以请你也变得很棒好吗？
SidneyDeng
Apr 7, 2013 · Traveled 1 month 25 days
写给未来的文曦曦子
被软星拒绝了，好难过啊，连个面试的机会都没有，是不是我画的太粗糙了，也许吧，创意也不够好，好想哭，但是没办法。也许就像鬼子说的，生理期忧郁症吧觉得自己不够好，画也画不好，还有一大堆事计划着要去做，什么补全系列，简直就是给自己背负担不过不知道那时候能补全到什么地步历史中医动漫美术史啊啊啊啊啊，我的人生
被猫化的生物
Apr 8, 2013 · Traveled 3 months 12 days
幸福，离你并不远
幸福，离你并不远，此刻的你，找到幸福了吗？2013的你，还没有找到爱的人，只是喜欢上了刘同。注册了一个新的微博，帐号：Seattle2013密码：你的常用密码写下来，是不希望你将它忘记，因为我相信在很长的一段时间它是你整个世界的精神支柱。这一天，你投了光线传媒的实习简历。简历宣言：罗小娇要北漂！！！
Rosie
Apr 8, 2013 · Traveled 5 years 1 month
나에게 쓰는 편지-제2화*This is life.*
안녕.한주간 무엇을 했지?변한 모습으로 짠 하고 나타날려 했는데...그대로네.그건...얼마전 조류독감 비상사태가 터졌을때 하필이면 감기 걸려서...몸조리 하느라 아무것도 못했지...라고 변명하고싶지는 않다...... ...이젠 이런 위로같지 않은 위로도 많이 안할련다.
meinaSH
Apr 9, 2013 · Traveled 7 days
你还活着那就太好了
我最亲爱的自己： 大学的四年在我现在的时间过去了，混蛋的时光肯定不会在记忆里留下太久。 那个女孩子，你应该已经记不清来了吧，不知道那时候的你是否还能记起，我只想说，现在的自己已经把这一切看的透彻，就像她不会无缘无故来找你一样，毕竟，之前的一年多，什么也没有。 是该结婚了吧，合适就好，别被辜负，也别辜
vam
Apr 9, 2013 · Traveled 10 years
给自己
希望几年后的我会变的足够成熟，有足够的担当，不论那时候，陪在我身边的是不是你，我都会去认真的爱着那时候陪在我身边的她。经历足够多的坎坷，才会发现有些人的弥足珍贵。珍惜眼前，珍惜彼此吧。也许可能要说再见，就在不久之后。但我不希望真的发生。
于乐griffith
Apr 9, 2013 · 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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