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

4435 public letters
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给100天后的自己

hello!          今天开始学习英语童话故事,希望自己能够坚持下去。不要做英语文盲,每天学习一点,让自己的生活丰富一些,不要太过于颓废。        没有宏伟的目标,哪有前行的动力。100天后3本书流畅阅读。

n3358 2018.08.14
写给未来的我
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写给未来的我

                                                   写给未来的我亲爱的我:                 “你,还好吗?我,还好吗?”                    在这个普通的日子里,我突然想写些什么,写给未来的自己

savion 2018.08.14
给未来的自己
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给未来的自己

我知道你可以,感谢你的努力

n3359 2018.08.14
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100天后,我依然在这里

终于收到邮件了,恭喜第一次将一件事情坚持了100天的你!

n3363 2018.08.14
哇,看来你坚持下来了
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哇,看来你坚持下来了

竟然抗过了双十一,100天,你完成了,每天学英语

n3368 2018.08.14
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寄给未来100天的自己

上班两个月了吧?你还好吗?如果坚持到现在,你真的好棒,你是怎么做到的?现在还紧张吗?爱你❤

n3370 2018.08.14
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写给未来的猪猫

为什么学英语呢?我想,是因为它巧克力般的语感,流线型的字体和独特的魅力。我喜欢文学,但是很多国外名著翻译成中文,就失去了它本来的味道,所以啊,我会一直学英语,为了无障碍读英文原著,为了看大片不用中文字幕。这次测的词汇量让我觉得有点虚,工作一年,难得接触英语,有时看早读的时候我会拿

n3372 2018.08.14
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写给100天的自己

100天前你正在敷着面膜,坐在书桌前跟弟弟聊着生活。100天前也是你第一次开始英文阅读的日子,希望看到这份信的时候你完成了自己的坚持,读完了三本英文书。100天前你是一个教1个多月英语的老师,跟外教老师交流还有很多的问题,100天后的你希望已经得到更多家长和学生的认可!

n3374 2018.08.14
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生日快乐

你在哪里?你高中喜欢的人到哪里了?(说,是不是把我当年喜欢的吴优搞丢了???)如果你能收到这封邮件,你真幸运!加油啊!生日快乐!!!今天又是元气满满的一天

刘丰丰 2018.08.15
TO 2019.1.1的你
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TO 2019.1.1的你

这是一封写给2019.1.1的范梓锋的信,为什么不说写给我自己呢!因为我感觉现在的只是我,而不是范梓锋。2017年2月份的时候,我写过一封给自己1年后的信,我那时信心满满,以为自己可以完成自己信中的所有目标,显然,没有!没有!没有!那些目标其实很简单,只需要坚持,就基本能达到,

看马戏的团长 2018.08.15
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写给3年后的你

嘿,三年后的你,我是三年前的你,你好呀?今天是不是你的生日啊?还是要和你说一句生日快乐啊,祝你天天开心,越来越漂亮。27岁了,已经不能再是小姑娘了,现在的你还那么幼稚还那么单纯吗?踩过的坑还那么多吗?你现在结婚了吗?如果结婚了,你过得幸福吗?如果没结婚,你有交往的对象了吗?你对他

n3379 2018.08.17
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2018年8月17日,田军的想法。

现在是2018年8月17日下午18点18分,我怀着一种忐忑和不安的心情写下了这份信,希望在2020年的你能够收到。我现在在武汉市洪山区保利心语,离职中。买了一张武汉前往深圳的机票。还没有任何工工作。第一次做飞机。我不知道接下来的路会怎样。也不知道你会收到怎么样的结果。只是希望我今

小田 2018.08.17

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.

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