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 letters不想继续了
嗨，亲爱的自己： 今天是2018年03月01日，很久没有再向自己说话了，想念未来的你。你与他，突然间写着你与他的故事，忽然间，你好像喜欢不起来，爱不起来了，等想回忆的时候再来写吧。
你在有海的地方
Mar 2, 2018 · Traveled 1 year
祝你十八岁生日快乐
我，三年前的我，准确来说是681天、16344小时、58838400秒前的自己。诚挚地送上对你十八岁生日的祝贺，从今天前你便是大人了，不再是闯了祸父母能够袒护你的孩子了，你能对自己的行动负责了。又倘若你看到这封邮件，请不要为自己当初的幼稚做法脸红，过去的你便是最真实的你。 作为过去的你，我会督促你的
n2671
Mar 2, 2018 · Traveled 1 year 10 months
我是2018.3.2的你
今天你做了许多门萨测试题，你发现了大脑不用便会生锈。北大也还可以，，这句话是撒贝宁说的。那么你本科拿的到啊。考复旦的研究生有把握吗？你做的到吗？别荒废了一生，我就是你。
n2672
Mar 2, 2018 · Traveled 2 years
写给未来的…
你好啊，现在是2018年3月2号下午16:51分，我又心血来潮写了封信给自己。。。再过10天就是今年生日了，肯定是没什么人记得啦。不知道两年后的你是怎么样的，学会了更多东西吗，驾照考了吗，有新朋友了吗，考到什么学校了呢，和群里的人还有联系吗，还是就此逐渐淡出他们的生活，究竟选了什么专业呢，对未来有信
XUback
Mar 2, 2018 · Traveled 2 years
Photo letter
给未来的你
給五年後的你：五年後的黎嘉穎，你現在過得怎樣？和五年前你所為你塑造的未來相似嗎？小時候的你，拼命地努力，努力堅強，努力維護，努力賺錢，努力微笑，努力幻想有一天，能實現自己的願望，努力為以後的自由做準備....可是安靜的時候，又好想哭，因為累，因為需要愛，我很沒有安全感，所以總是用力地去尋找，然後最後
Zafrina_Lai
Mar 3, 2018 · Traveled 5 years 6 months
一生很短，少有圆满
这封信是来自过去的你，本来想写一大堆。后来想想就一句话吧！“无论这个世界对你怎么样，都请你一如既往的努力、勇敢、充满希望”
n2224
Mar 3, 2018 · Traveled 1 year
来自过去
我知道你有决心，但是有些事我希望你能有恒心2年后的你不管怎么样，我都希望你能坚持你的梦想。虽然生活平平淡淡才是真，但是只有不断向前，才能实现价值，保护身边的人，不是吗？所以，打起精神来，加油！ 2018年03月04日14:56:56
n2224
Mar 4, 2018 · Traveled 2 years
来自三年前的自己
在上大学吗? 还是早已漂泊在外? 努力吧不要放弃!让自己更累一点，就可以做得更好
微笑
Mar 4, 2018 · Traveled 3 years
你是否成为了你想成为的那种人
三个月后，你也该参加考试了吧！那你完成刚开学时候的理想了吗？你说，你愿意每天花些时间，去看书，去学专业知识。你说你认为大学最重要的是有过硬的专业技能看视频，玩游戏都是太过无聊而对时间的奢侈挥霍你还珍视你曾获得的友情吗？他们的善良是否都在一天天的时光里磨碎了，被你忘却你还能保持你一贯的风度，不丧失冷静
程玉玉
Mar 10, 2018 · Traveled 3 months
写给未来
一年后的你会怎样，一年后的自己又会有什么不同。
凉薄
Mar 10, 2018 · Traveled 1 year
写给未来的…
一年后的你或怎样，一年后的自己又会有什么不同！
凉薄
Mar 10, 2018 · Traveled 1 year
Photo letter
五年前的你给你的信
你好： 今天刷微博的时候看见一位老爷爷，给自己求婚前的自己和高考前的自己。我也突发奇想想寄给未来五年后的自己。先说一下我目前的情况。我在北京工作。公司经营不太好，有可能失业。也有一个不太靠谱的感情。我特别纠结。相信五年后的你已经结婚甚至有宝宝了吧。你马上就三十而立了。你现在幸福吗。你现在是不是变得很
曾经蜡笔没有小新
Mar 12, 2018 · Traveled 5 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
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