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你好明天
明天的我你好，当看到这封邮件时你已经结束了本学期的所有课程，你准备好迎接期末考试了吗？准备好即将离开大学校园了吗？
歆沫
Dec 24, 2018 · Traveled 1 day
postome9 生活
七年后的现在，你正觉得怎么样，我吃了一顿午饭现在感到满满的肚胀。这里是[2018-12-27 12:22] 周四，华为黑Jack客户端。 在学校食堂遇见了凯妮，在听到她声音时努力想出她的名字，幸亏想出来了。 她是文科班的，成绩一直在年级前一百，即使请假了几个月，上学期。我很高兴我能够迈出一步，能够直
杰西丿rJress95959
Dec 27, 2018 · Traveled 7 years
霍小宝
今天收到两年前寄给自己的信啦很开心因为明年的生活还是个未知数所以只寄了一年的呢这一年你还快乐吗烦恼是不是还是很多情绪稳定追求发展好好对待爸妈好好对待朋友和爱人从小事开始做事最重要的是爱自己永远都能有再站起来的力量张雪凝说，一切都会好的私心不敢写杜杜怕并没有好结果让你难过人生还长，慢慢来他一定也是希望
霍小宝
Dec 27, 2018 · Traveled 1 year
给未来的杨阳
致25岁的杨阳：你好呀~写下这封信的起因是看了摄影师林海音的历程，而我又恰好处于迷茫阶段。在考研和摄影之间犹豫着，不知道自己的未来会怎样，不知道自己该怎样选择未来的路。但是看了林海音的故事自己仿佛有了选择。未来很长，所以我只把这封信给25岁的自己，希望那时的自己成为了自己想要成为的人。现在的我20岁
n3936
Dec 28, 2018 · Traveled 5 years
postome10 独自呓语
左侧的智齿不再疼痛，一往如常。而右侧的智齿这段时间便疼痛起来，洗牙后的没有注意貌似也导致了牙龈酸痛，不知道是洗牙的缘故还是长智齿。 这导致了我的脑袋总是一阵一阵的疼，总结起来浑身是病，让我学习方面更是雪上加霜，或许这是一种过犹不及的借口，开脱。 这里是[2018-12-28 17:10] 周五，华为
杰西丿rJress95959
Dec 28, 2018 · Traveled 7 years
写给2020年的自己
Hello Vicky,It is time to write a letter to myself again. In year 2019, I hope you have already obtained the PfMP certifidental and been an candidate
vicky0220
Jan 1, 2019 · Traveled 11 months 30 days
七.
没想错的话，现在我已经大一了，这十二年的坚持，拼搏，努力，奋斗，也终于有了一个短暂的小结尾。感谢这么拼命的自己，也感谢身边的人。
年年
Jan 1, 2019 · Traveled 9 months 24 days
写给未来的自己
首先谢谢七年后的你，这几年你一定过的艰辛、迷茫又无助，虽然我不能帮助你什么，但我确实是最能理解你的人。此时或许你小有成就，亦或停滞不前，但我依然真诚的希望你怀揣着梦想，不屈平凡，保持一颗阳光的心态，迎接生活，不要忘记那些在你困难时候帮助过你的人。此时，阳光正在升起，祝君于新的一年快乐！！！来自一个正
NICETO
Jan 1, 2019 · Traveled 7 years
文章
你变帅了吗，你有钱了吗，你还爱ta吗，你成绩好了吗……无论怎么样，2018过得够憋屈2019也不要这样2020加油吧，中考等着你！！！
n3945
Jan 2, 2019 · Traveled 11 months 30 days
写给一周以后的我
Hi 既然我们都是自己，那就不客套了。我现在，好累。我很难受——我的精神已经涣散了，我无法集中到一件事情上，疲惫感不时地迎上来，击垮我。我体会了好几次被困倦吞没的感受。这听起来挺没趣的，是吧。说到底就是我困了，我很难继续学下去了。但我之前在干嘛呢，我浪费了大把时间，翘了大把课。说起来太丢脸了。我不觉
一个银勺子
Jan 3, 2019 · Traveled 3 days
爱你的神誓
你好，20岁 的你。又过去了一年，你回来已经一年啦，你做了些什么呢？是不是已经有小宝贝了呢？还是继续你的贵族生活（手动滑稽）？应该，已经考完驾照，拿到导游证了吧，直播怎么样了呢，是不是顺利进行，让更多的人认识你了呢？我知道，你是一个把爱情看做比生命还要重要的人，现在，你有了前进和努力的方向了没有呢？
神的誓言a
Jan 4, 2019 · Traveled 11 months 28 days
姑娘你好
姑娘你好：想来你看这封信的时候应该时2020年了吧，距离上次写信已经有两年了，这两年时光如梭，来不及仔细品尝生活带来的酸甜苦辣，转眼就已经20岁了。这封信就来让我和你一起回忆一下初入社会的感想。这两年想来也是人生中的转折点，原来看过一句话，“当你老了，回顾一生，就会发觉：什么时候出国读书，什么时候决
ZYW_coco
Jan 6, 2019 · 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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