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 lettersfuture me
今天小年，先跟2019年的自己，打个招呼吧~我想，你一个月前才收到一封future me，没多久又有一封了，不知你是什么心情。但你看到上一封的时候，应该就懂了。（莫名尴尬的future me）先回应下上一封。对于宝马5系，大概不是我的就不会有再多交集，长记性了吧，对于那些说要追你的，可能就是说说而已
R_Moku
Nov 29, 2018 · Traveled 1 month 30 days
寄给100天后的Owen
英语一直是一个坎，必须得迈过去。现在自己也是英语专业，希望我能坚持阅读100天的薄荷英语。并一直保持第二个100天以及更多，不再亏欠未来的自己。充实每一天，只有努力和不断学习才能把曾今挥霍的时日慢慢补回来。 加油吧！天可补、海可填，南山可移，日月既往，不复可追。 ——————————致100天后的自
n3774
Dec 8, 2018 · Traveled 3 months 10 days
我的50岁
从今天起，努力准备自己的50岁生日礼物:1.能讲流利的英语，能自如的翻阅英文原版小说。2.自费出版一本诗集3.完成半程马拉松（带成绩）4.开始绘画
非非壹
Dec 8, 2018 · Traveled 2 years
Photo letter
写给3年后的自己
hi,我相信在你读研究生的这3年里提升很大，知道自己需要的是什么。当你收到这封信的时候应该已经工作2年半了，不出意外和男朋友的感情很好。或者你们已经在讨论结婚
n3790
Dec 8, 2018 · Traveled 3 years
一年后 你还好吗
九年级的我你还好吗？！2019是否像2018一样暴雪倾城呢！？祝那时的我快乐加油！
n3791
Dec 8, 2018 · Traveled 11 months 29 days
写给未来的jennifer
亲爱的自己，我希望你能好好珍惜自己每一天每一秒的时光，做自己该做的事情！每天上午下午晚上做3次眼保健操，晚上100下开合跳，100下深呼吸，毛笔字会写了，英语读完了，故事要学会总结，税务师老师看完所有教材！我相信你！
n3792
Dec 8, 2018 · Traveled 3 months
寄給100天後的自己
Haha, Hello~ 這100天堅持下去了嗎？記得當初就連要下定決心買薄荷閱讀 也差不多用了快2年的時間才下的決心嗎？哈哈 因為我是個重度拖延患者和一個3分鐘熱度的人. 好害怕買了書 可又不讀。現在的我堅持下去了嗎？有每天讀書嗎？英語有稍微進步一點了嗎？這100天打卡了嗎？還了放棄了已經？每天1
n3796
Dec 9, 2018 · Traveled 3 months 14 days
未来的你
孩子出了吗?是男孩还是女孩呢？现在过得怎么样的?会不会面对孩子手足无措呢？现在就已经很无奈了呢。
mjj
Dec 17, 2018 · Traveled 8 months 15 days
Photo letter
未来的你，现在好吗。
你好，十年后的自己。这里是2018.12.18 11:48，华为黑jack客户端。我从行政楼的三楼厕所返回，一路上人影匆匆，只有我只离片影，冬天的冷气让我感觉心灰意冷，而真正让我觉得降至零度的还是我对于我的失望。 在学校的午休总是在醒来的时候感觉到深刻的绝望，我打算这个中午尝试着不去睡觉。即使我的眼
杰西丿rJress95959
Dec 18, 2018 · Traveled 7 years
Photo letter
postome3 七年后的你，不再是我。
你好，七年后的我。写了几篇十年后的邮件，但是发现还是跨度太大了，那时候你已经28岁了。应该早就成家立业了吧。这里[2018-12-18 21:48] ，魅蓝小魅客户端。 从掌盟上发现阿卡丽要被削弱了，而且这一刀很致命，我的内心很难受。跟猫丢失的那一次一样难受，仿佛被什么给揪着了一样。可能也是因为我早
杰西丿rJress95959
Dec 18, 2018 · Traveled 7 years
七年后的今天，你还会像我这样忧虑吗。
七年后的今天 你在做什么呢。这里是[2018-12-19 12:26] ，华为黑jack客户端。 饭卡里头只剩下了4.5，我这学期貌似都没有充过钱。早上和妈妈讨要了饭钱，她开车载着我们去学校，周而复始的又一天，虽然我只在学校重新读了两天。 路上，和街边的包子铺买了一些包子，六块钱买了四个。现在的物价
杰西丿rJress95959
Dec 19, 2018 · Traveled 7 years
写给未来的…
我戴着耳机，走过车往匆匆的道路，仿佛与这个世界相隔开来。红霞变成了深黑，霓虹响彻在各处。我站在车站等到了十八点多。 这里是[2018-12-19 21:52] ，魅蓝小魅客户端。七年后的今天这个夜晚，你在做什么呢。今天爸爸没来载我，我独自走过了漫漫长路。 《我是江小白》更新了最新一集了，第八集。这本
杰西丿rJress95959
Dec 19, 2018 · Traveled 7 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
Write yours