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致一百天后的自己
现在的你，英语只有初中水平，作为一名初中英语教师，我希望你努力学习，多看书，让自己变得更好，更优秀！一百天后，希望看到更加自信，更美的你！加油！李秋玲
n3181
Apr 26, 2018 · Traveled 2 months 7 days
亲爱的jessica
hi，gilr…我决定挑战为期100天的英语阅读，我不知道我能不能成功，我是一个典型三分钟热度的人。但从现在开始我想改变了，因为现在我是一个妈妈的角色，我希望我能成为孩子的榜样，我希望我能带着孩子学会坚持… 只要下定目标就要坚持完成。亲爱的的Jessica 你要加油！如果成功了，我一定请自己大吃一顿
n3182
Apr 26, 2018 · Traveled 3 months
寄给100天后的我
我现在是一个英语一般，学习一般的五年级小朋友！我希望参加了这期薄荷阅读后，我的英语是在班里超前的，让自己轻松的走进英语世界！
n3184
Apr 26, 2018 · Traveled 1 day
写给完成100天课程的我
希望自己能完成100天的课程，之后在遇到需要英语交流的唱歌能从容应对，不会再恐慌！
n3188
Apr 26, 2018 · Traveled 3 months
致三个月后的你
hey你好我现在挺迷茫的，希望现在的你不会希望你现在信心满满！做好该做的事！继续加油 ！坚持！
n3002
Apr 26, 2018 · Traveled 3 months
写给未来的…
喂，怎么样了 还OK是不是还是一样穷是不是还是一样幼稚是不是还是一样没女朋友是不是还是一样没心没肺是不是还是一样得过且过是不是还是一样...又一个年了呀你留不住时间啊怎么办呢不怕吗有办法能回个信给我吗告诉我你到底是不是还是一样呢2018/4/27
陈JL
Apr 27, 2018 · Traveled 1 year
Photo letter
29岁生日快乐！！
啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊！！！！！！！刚刚写了一遍没有保存，丢了！！！！！！再来！首先不管过得怎么样，都祝你生日快乐！！！29岁的你是否还如此彷徨？2018年注定会成为不平凡的一年，去年写得要好好待妹纸，但是我好像没有怎么做到。。内心太平静了，毫无波澜。谈朋友不兴奋，就连结婚都很淡定，感觉不是自己要
我的世界
Apr 28, 2018 · Traveled 11 months 2 days
一个星期后的我
一个星期了，心情好点了没，别总是想不开心的事。想想开心点，尽快适应吧，加油啊。。为了自己的梦想 。。。（别太伤心了bilibili- ( ゜- ゜)つロ 乾杯~）
n3202
Apr 29, 2018 · Traveled 7 days
Photo letter
这次是来自18岁的你.
首先，祝你20岁生日快乐，从今天起，你不该再是一个孩子了。（虽然我很清楚你的年龄一直成谜哈哈）现在呢，介绍一下我自己。我是18岁的你。那么，你现在想知道的是我的近况呢，还是精神状态还是思想呢。我都会告诉你。现在是春天，在我看来就是即将进入夏天的季节。有时候暖和的犹胜夏天，有时候也冷的回到秋天。而我现
a791955925
Apr 29, 2018 · Traveled 1 year 11 months
给暑假的杨坤
这时你应该已经放暑假了吧，头发留长了吗？还在为王亦文的事烦恼吗？这个事情希望你早日走出，毕竟我也挺难过的。毕竟第一次不要太责怪自己。代码码好了吗？最重要的是，你现在多重了？我现在100斤。我一直认为你比此时的我要优秀，希望你不要打脸，你知道给我带来多大压力吗？我现在要向你发起挑战，无论你怎么样，我不
用户6014284746
Apr 30, 2018 · Traveled 2 months
Photo letter
写给5年后的我
？好！五年后的我，你现在过的怎么样？不要沉迷于网络了。现在不知道说什么反正就是问你怎么样
n3203
Apr 30, 2018 · Traveled 5 years
写给未来的…
中考没考好不代表你的人生失败我要重来为自己的人生
梅利莎陈文宇
Apr 30, 2018 · Traveled 1 month
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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