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

你好,我是一年前的你

可能你在复读,也可能已经去了大学,总之,加油吧,同志!

2023027864

Mar 7, 2024 · Traveled 11 months 27 days

Arrived 简体中文

给五年后的自己写一封信

五年后我还会是我么,会变得性格不一样么?希望我越来越好吧

wjh20110227

Mar 21, 2024 · Traveled 1 day

Arrived 简体中文

给自己大学毕业的一封信

找一个漂亮的女朋友,认识更多的人,学好自己的专业出来找到工作💼,稳定上班,和同事一起玩。结交值得信任的朋友

2544418834

Mar 26, 2024 · Traveled 1 day

Arrived 简体中文

给毕业自己的一封信

快大学毕业的南凤妮,你好我是大一的你,毕业时你的梦想确定了吗,还觉得现在的日子荒诞无聊吗,还觉得一切什么都没有意思吗。我想你应该积极一点不要像我一样,我希望我们都有美好的未来,和朋友,和家人。虽然我觉得四级很难,但是我相信你一定可以考上,并且考的很不错,我总觉得自己碌碌无为喜欢半途而废,未来的这一辈

3405232099

Mar 26, 2024 · Traveled 2 months 20 days

Arrived 简体中文

哈喽啊,未来的自己

不是,活着怎么有时候这么难啊!真的好委屈好害怕啊,也不知道现在的你有没有一样的想法......(就是那几天我说什么王沛然,又又姐姐啥的)感觉会被揍。还有萌萌老师,不知道你还记不记得,真的好烦啊,一点也不喜欢她呢~ 还要王沛然和杜尼西就是两个2B,我服了,老师让我们第一次在纸上写出考试,感觉要嘎了。也

moriahliu

Apr 1, 2024 · Traveled 1 year

Arrived 简体中文

未来的我 圣诞快乐!

你好 两年后的我 我是2024.4.3发的 (可能写的不太好)好久不见!你现在怎么样了呢 在上学还是上班呢?是否还在世界上吗?我呢 希望这个时候的我是开心幸福自由的(任何自由) 是否逃出那里了呢 是好好的 还是还在生病呢 如果你是好好的 那我希望我越来越好 不好的人都遇不到 ,如果还在生病 那我希望

241637805

Apr 3, 2024 · Traveled 2 years

Arrived 简体中文

hi,又见面了

hello,不知道你今天感觉如何,是否得偿所愿,是否去过你曾经想去的海南

145349494

Apr 10, 2024 · Traveled 4 months 21 days

Arrived 简体中文

经历了6个月的一封信

2024年4月13日你现在还在天津联创上班吗,如果是的话怎么样了呢,每天过的还开心吗,Ella估计也已经离职了,一个人上班下班还好吗房子应该也已经到期了,这么多的东西搬家一定很累吧,希望这个时候刚满24岁的你已经找到了一个好工作,收入也还可以我这段时间过的好累啊,每天都很烦,辞职的念头快要压不住了,

1215457200

Apr 13, 2024 · Traveled 7 months 20 days

Arrived 简体中文

给高考完的方方

嗨方方,我是来自高考前五十五天的你自己。今天是2024年4月13日,现在是22:55。怎么说,今天登录邮箱的时候看见了初中给未来的自己写的信,确切的说是给去年的我,给刚成年的我。一转眼这么多年过去了啊,曾经以为挺不过去的日子,现在看来好像都回不去了。我知道这五十几天过的会飞快,我没想逃避即将来临的审

3390810889

Apr 13, 2024 · Traveled 1 month 27 days

Arrived 简体中文

速看,这是三年前的时光胶囊

过上你满意的生活了吗?现在是2024年4月16日,我正在准备备考事业编,有没有更接纳自己一点呢?我爱你,请不要放弃对抗这操蛋的人生,心理和身体都没出什么问题吧?家人也都还健在吗?尤其是姥姥。 目前我的状况就是有点小小的焦虑,不过还好,也在努力生活,职业上的不确定性让我很是苦恼,耐心还是很差,到了晚上

n4169

Apr 16, 2024 · Traveled 1 day

Arrived 简体中文

你还在吗,还记得曾经的我吗

今天我喝的还不算太多,在2014.4.17你买了四本书,不知道今天的你有没有看完,在2024.4.18你趁着喝点酒跟妈妈谈了一点自己的想法。其实你已经感觉到了亲情的,嗯~怎么说那 亲情的,嗯~没啥啥能隔绝亲情的阻碍吧(你懂的。华)不知道现在的你跟他们怎么样了,你有没有结婚,有没有自己爱的人或者女朋友

n1947

Apr 18, 2024 · Traveled 2 years

Arrived 简体中文

一年后的我

谢云你的病有好了吗,还活着吗,生活还快乐吗,有找到自己吗,哪个一直开心的你,哪怕梦想没有做到,听众其实也挺好的

3366397587

Apr 21, 2024 · 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.

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