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
4454 public letters
Photo letter
开学啦
hi，dear，miss.fool。开学第一周，感觉如何？应该新鲜感还没有褪去吧。 可能还斗志昂扬的样子啊？O(∩_∩)O~ 嗯，我想没有MR.L的帮助的话，没人给亲爱的支小纯写87封信，那么就由我来吧。 但是不得不说啊，你的毅力还真是差= = 所以如果你现在迫不及待的上网的话，关了吧亲。 坚持啊亲
free
Aug 27, 2013 · Traveled 10 days
Photo letter
second
第二周了。应该还是算新鲜吧。不过可能有点浮躁了。 这封信还是要告诉你给我坚持啊。second。可是你最好的名次是TM的第三名。 不过你开学考试，好像能够算第二。前面并列的两个第一，都甩在了50名后，太搞了。第一嗖嗖嗖到50.这样看来，你8名。还是，很差。 不努力你永远很差。想想吧，10年后你整理自己
free
Aug 27, 2013 · Traveled 18 days
Photo letter
写给那个没志气的傻瓜。
嗨喽！两个月后的你，也许你早已经忘记了，呵呵，没事，未来小邮差还记得。 不知道现在的你和小二的关系怎么样了？希望不要想这两天一样了，你丫的也太傻了吧。快点学着长大吧。以前有人跟你说过，只有自己爱自己才不会受伤。你特么到底听进去没有啊？看来你只是记住了，并没有做到。活该，你就活该被别人欺负。这样说是不
疯笑Smile声
Aug 27, 2013 · Traveled 2 months
给五年后的自己
当你打开这封信的时候已经是五年过去了，这五年我不知道自己会走怎样的路，我所渴望的是到时候我能有一个自己心爱的人，那么此时我应该和心爱的他一起在看这封信我希望五年后我能有一套属于自己的房子，而且还有属于自己的车子，或许每天放学的时候我会亲自开车接我儿子下学我的儿子这个时候一定很棒，他应该是和我妈妈生活
代代就是我天使
Sep 4, 2013 · Traveled 5 years
Photo letter
写给未来的…
说实话，20年之后你是什么样子我真的很难想象哎。至少现在你是个勉强清丽的少女。30岁啊= = 很遥远哪。你生孩子了没？丈夫帅气╮(╯_╰)╭
free
Sep 6, 2013 · Will travel 20 years
一个星期后的我
第一次在这里写信，我不知道想对你说什么，总以为时间是未知的，可是不知道一个星期之后的你，会不会还和一个星期之前现在的我一样呢？
MONO
Sep 7, 2013 · Traveled 7 days
Photo letter
写给未来的…
[图片已丢失] 嗯，我知道，现在的你摩拳擦掌准备自己的新学期，很有信心的样子。 但是我必须提醒你，亲爱的。可能现在你信心十足，想着，我要冲冲冲！不过嘛，也许一个月，两个月，你又打回原形咯。O(∩_∩)O~ 不过别沮丧啊。我的信，就是用来安慰你的哪亲爱的。 第二，别介意当个书呆子。去年你的成绩不错，但
free
Sep 14, 2013 · Traveled 6 days
MORDRED默
2013年9月14号出了车祸自己开的车可惜的是我没死那我就要更好的活下去！或许只有经历了生死才会更懂得珍惜了。留下的不该是后怕，应该是新的规划！徘徊生死间，幸运降临，即使灾随之福。抛下琐事视为回忆，写下今日为以后所回忆！伤心总是难免的。
n193
Sep 16, 2013 · Traveled 9 years 11 months
回不去的曾经 已经曾经了么
嘻嘻 好紧张哦 这是第一次给自己写信喔 呵呵 还是未来的自己呢 不知道会不会收到呢 就这样吧 就当一个随笔吧 亲爱的自己 过的还好么 毕业了吧 有开心么 还是有些许的不舍呢 我想你一定哭了吧 因为从小到大次到那种离别的场面你都会哭 有个人说过 你是个很感性的人 不知道 现在的每你性格有没有变呢 还是
思念那只被你丢弃的猫Cherry
Sep 16, 2013 · Traveled 2 years
你的算法的梦想，更近了吗？
我知道算法很难学，我知道你也会心情不好，我知道成长的路上很难走，我知道你从来没有放弃自己，我都知道，但是，你需要变得更好，不是吗？过去了一个月，期待你的算法会有基本的进步，加油，年轻人。
n194
Sep 22, 2013 · Traveled 1 month 10 days
To future me
This is my another letter to you . I feel quite weird when writing a letter to me by myself.Are you in Japan now ? All I want to know is it. I wish yo
n196
Sep 27, 2013 · Traveled 2 years
To future me
This is my another letter to you . I feel quite weird when writing a letter to me by myself.Are you in Japan now ? All I want to know is it. I wish yo
n196
Sep 27, 2013 · Traveled 2 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
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