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

4436 public letters
Delivered 简体中文

写给未来的自己第一封信

这是一条来自2016年12月1日发布的定时说说。(之后还有好几条说说骚扰,你等着看吧。)说实话此时的我现在正在教室里闲得无聊选择单反,我给你讲,我现在定下来的是索尼a系列的机型,虽然我还是预感之后的你节操会狂掉选择尼康,但我还是要要告诉你,索尼佳能有妹撩,尼康活该风光党!你改悔吧

鱼有安乐 2020.06.05
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来自2017的信件

这是一封来自2017.4.16日的信。和上一封的风格大概不同吧,现在已经大一下学期了,该对自己未来上点心了,会从已经取消了,也确实是过了,可又有什么用呢?初级今年十一月报上名,自考本科也报名了,就是不知道能不能坚持学出来(怕半途而废。),我想这注定是一种孤独的选择吧,第二学历没用

鱼有安乐 2020.06.05
Delivered 简体中文

来自2016过去的我

这是一条来自2016年12月1日发布的定时说说。(之后还有好几条说说骚扰,你等着看吧。)说实话此时的我现在正在教室里闲得无聊选择单反,我给你讲,我现在定下来的是索尼a系列的机型,虽然我还是预感之后的你节操会狂掉选择尼康,但我还是要要告诉你,索尼佳能有妹撩,尼康活该风光党!你改悔吧

鱼有安乐 2020.06.05
Delivered 简体中文

来自2017过去的我的问候

这是一封来自2017.4.16日的信。和上一封的风格大概不同吧,现在已经大一下学期了,该对自己未来上点心了,会从已经取消了,也确实是过了,可又有什么用呢?初级今年十一月报上名,自考本科也报名了,就是不知道能不能坚持学出来(怕半途而废。),我想这注定是一种孤独的选择吧,第二学历没用

鱼有安乐 2020.06.05
Delivered 简体中文

写给查询完中级会计的自己

 我想今年唯一的重头戏,都不指这段时间吧,小劳叔即便说今年大概率就能出来,但也不能说保过吧,哈哈哈。  如果说是过,请尽情的玩,漫长的马拉松已经结束了,第一阶段你完成了60%,英语四级和计算机二级对你来说也只是锦上添花了吧。你未来的路可以说是下限是新的工业革命升级和产业革命带来

鱼有安乐 2020.06.05
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致八月的自己

Dear.kyleHow is going with you?Already tuo mouths later.Have you changeed?They say ask the right qustions and you will get the best answears

张kyle 2020.06.07
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22岁的余娟娟

宝贝,你好啊!我是22岁的余娟娟,你今天28岁了,首先祝你生日快乐!22岁的我,已经几乎不过生日了,不知道28岁的你,有没有人给你过生日!你应该结婚了吧,孩子都几岁了吧,是女孩吗?生活是不是你想要的样子,结婚的那个人,是你妥协现实想要的吗?我今天收到了17岁的余娟写给我的信,她叫

虞姬Mis 2020.06.08
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给快毕业的自己

这个时候的你,应该要毕业了吧,如果没有意外,你现在应该很开心。这一年来你完成了太多事,弥补之前落下的,完成现在进行的,还要为了今后的生活努力,你真的辛苦了!我没办法代表过去的自己向你道歉,因为现在的我也是受害者,疲于应付课业,重修,还有考研。最最糟糕的一件事:拖延的习惯虽有改善但

季末 2020.06.11
穿越时光的一封信
Delivered
简体中文

穿越时光的一封信

嗨,小温同学,你收到这封信已经是2023年了,有好多问题要问你。北京冬奥会成功举办了吗?你有没有去现场看?有没有喜欢的工作?生活步入正轨了吗?现在过得怎么样?嫁给想嫁的人了吗?结婚生子了吗?男孩还是女孩?现在在你身边的人还是岳野吗?又或者,你现在还在吗?跟三年前比是胖了还是瘦了,

不倒翁 2020.06.11
10y 简体中文

19岁的我给未来的你

1.你在你的日记中写到,你未来是要去旅行去环游世界,你做到了吗?2.你是否谈过恋爱交了女朋友?不过依我看就你那德性,肯定是先搞了钱才会有女朋友吧。3.所以说你肯定没结婚对不对?4.不会真的结了婚吧?喂!她漂不漂亮?我可没见过她,我也想都不敢想,所以说他到底长什么样呢?我真是好奇你

u觉得不懂 2020.06.12
(无标题)
9y
简体中文

(无标题)

To future Oliver:        嘿,猜猜我是谁?没错,十年前的你,你现在过得怎么样?还好么?爸爸妈妈身体怎么样?奶奶是否还在呢?你呢?没有像如今这般狼狈了吧?        十年都过去了,你,还喜欢他么?应该不喜欢了吧?现在你的身边有人陪着你吗?还是自己还是孤身

用户6794388664 2020.06.13
10y 简体中文

写给30岁的自己

三十岁的我,你好么。今天是2020年的6月,还有不到一个月我就20岁了呢,突然第一次有了种童年距我如此遥远的感觉。不知道现在的你是在何处呢?我现在还是大二,怀抱着一颗考上北京科技的梦想,并希望在硕士毕业后进入马钢之类的国有钢铁企业,现在的你,在哪呢?你完成了大学时的梦想了么。在今

ruyan1987 2020.06.14

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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