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
Arrived 简体中文

写给未来的自己

亲爱的自己: 你好啊,你现在在干嘛呢,不会又在撩小姑娘吧,二十几岁的人了,能不能成熟点。现在了诶要毕业了想好要去找她了嘛,这个她嘛,我也不知道是谁,这还要看你自己的。你希望是陈吗还是另一个。两个都挺让你难受的,也就知道他们两个了。这些日子里有没有改善自己的弱点呢。快点变好吧,他们等不了。 突然收到这

n8357

Nov 13, 2022 · Traveled 3 years 6 months

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给未来自己的一封信

亲爱的自己: 你好! 我是以前的你,当你见到这封信的时候,我便成了你的回忆,我在这里,只是有些话想对你说。成长犹如那辽阔的天空,无边无际千变万化;好似那无暇的画纸,随心所欲任人涂鸦;好像那崎岖的山路,难以行走却总能通向山顶。 未来的自己应该不会像现在的我一样了吧,应该不会因为别人的一句话而否定怀疑自

n8358

Nov 13, 2022 · Traveled 1 day

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写给未来的…

2022年要结束了,不知道期末考试考的怎么样呐(笑)寒假也不许懈怠!!!!给我认真学习!!!(还要练吉他嘿嘿嘿)少吃点,给我控制饮食!!

XIAOYU

Nov 13, 2022 · Traveled 1 month 18 days

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给明年的自己

亲爱的:明年这个时候你应该研究生毕业了吧。现在的我真的很迷茫很焦虑,担心明年的你能不能如期毕业。事情千头万绪,论文有很多坑填补上,不知道怎么写,现在的状态就是充满了对自己无能的愤怒。经历几年的磨练,我渐渐更加清晰地认识到自己只是个普通人罢了,像一个普通人一样过一生就很幸福了。不知道未来路在何方,但我

人生一串

Nov 24, 2022 · Traveled 7 months 6 days

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给未来的迁哥

未来的迁哥: 你好,还认识我吗?我猜你现在正在正在看春晚或者在跟爸爸妈妈一起看或着在跟对象,哈哈好啦,话说现在你考上与她离得近的学校了吗? 三年前,你为了一个女生的眼泪不惜牺牲自己的学习来找她,现在还跟她在一起吗或者还有联系吗?害,她还是比较烦人的对吧,哈哈 我虽然不知道你现在怎么样,但是我想真挚的

赵子迁

Nov 27, 2022 · Traveled 2 months 21 days

Photo letter
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写给未来的李十

不别着急玩手机,给我看完这封信,回复它!知你是否认真复习,考进创新班呢,是否到达自己承诺的短期目标呢?还有不久就要过年了吧,那时你就可以买平板。我知道你还有很多未解决的事情,可能在这封信写好不久你们便成为真正的点赞之交,会遗憾吗,那么像你的人,我想那时你已经有答案了吧。你还没给黄慧颖道歉呢,你那时确

n8380

Dec 2, 2022 · Traveled 1 month 12 days

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只未来的自己

累并快乐着,要好于漫无目的地活,投资自己,顺势而为!——Kevin

Kevin

Dec 5, 2022 · Traveled 1 day

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To:初三的房睿

儿童节乐!!!现在是2022.12.05.16:32分~马上手机充电充好了要去做核酸了,你的成绩怎么样了呢?要中考了,现在的我一直梦想进去名牌大学成为上流人物,而扬中就是第一步,还有1年不到,加油啊!!!!!!!还有,你还喜欢王梓浩吗,虽然现在我是一时起意喜欢上他的哈哈哈哈~那我要去做核酸啦~祝你学

n8387

Dec 5, 2022 · Traveled 5 months 27 days

Photo letter
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相比现在你喜欢以前吗

现在的我应该比现在好吧

shayuhua

Dec 13, 2022 · Traveled 1 year

Photo letter
Arrived 简体中文

当年的志向实现了吗?

谷底敢想摘星梦,高考应该成功了吧。

shayuhua

Dec 13, 2022 · Traveled 1 year 6 months

Arrived 简体中文

现在怎么样了,在干嘛

现在有变好吗,是不是又浑浑噩噩过了一年?

select

Dec 15, 2022 · Traveled 1 year

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22岁的我,你变成什么样了

这时候,22岁的我,到你来接替21岁的我了,但是现在,是2022年12月20晚,得了奥密克戎,正在挣扎中我的情况:月薪三千,没有存款,没有女朋友,有好朋友珂珂,有曹宇,有盛泰,有洪成,有李瑞,有魏拓,正在为去上海想方法,不知道现在的你,身在何处。我的现在想法:我想拍好vlog,但是执行力不好,机器用

n8409

Dec 20, 2022 · Traveled 9 months 21 days

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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