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
3793 public letters致三年后的自己
致三年后的我此刻时针碾碎月光玻璃罐里的星子正沿着年轮的褶皱生长我站在记忆的站台目送载满青涩的列车远去铁轨延伸向迷雾深处开去那里藏着未来的密码愿你眼眸里的光依然清澈如溪在岁月的长河中走出属于自己的轨迹
May 14, 2025 · Traveled 1 day
给自己的信
小杨宝宝你现在有没有和金乙铉在一起呀 有没有考上好的大学呀 是否拿着自己想要的苹果16了呢 现在的你对未来充满期待 希望自己高考考好一点 能和喜欢的人在一起 宝宝你要快快乐乐的
May 18, 2025 · Traveled 2 months 14 days
给毕业自己的一封信
毕业快乐!收到这封来自时光的信时 刚好高考结束 高中三年在此画上了句号 我总是在毕业前期盼着毕业 但是这一天要到来时内心涌出万般的不舍 关于我这三年我好像会有很多很多遗憾 遗憾没有在学习的时候跟努力一点 遗憾有些人还没真正有过交集 就在毕业这一天 给自己一个机会与自己和解吧!今天距离高考还有17天!
May 21, 2025 · Traveled 19 days
给我自己
致16岁:你好啊,老人。不知道你怎么样了,高二上半学期还好吗?小说还在写吗?对了,圣诞快乐,我专门挑的圣诞节。孙灿灿还在吗,邱浩原,伊冠润,张潇腾还有那个rulong还在吗?对了,王宇欣还在吗,你有VPN了吗?我想在学校刷抖音。圣诞节学校会组织出去玩,你应该拿到手机了。还有学考你应该过了吧。。呃。。
May 22, 2025 · Traveled 7 months 3 days
Photo letter
2025 6 2
家里人还好吗,那几只猫和乌龟怎么样了,之前那个明月照我心的找到他了吗,那几个网友还在联系吗,妈的检查结果出来了没,放不下那些东西,希望一切都好起来,也希望回到过去,总是放不下一些事物,可能以后会好点把
Jun 2, 2025 · Traveled 6 months 30 days
致五年后的自己
今天是2025年6月5号,也是和陈镜洲在一起的第十年,我们也即将在今年的10.28进入婚姻的殿堂,时间过的好快,上一次写这个玩意的时候还是高中,现在都已经过去了这么多年了。也没想到我们竟然真的走到了婚姻这一步。这封信寄给5年后的自己。原本是想寄给再一次10年后的自己,但是想了下,可能进入了婚姻之后,
Jun 5, 2025 · Traveled 1 year
2026年1月1日,新年祈福
今天是2025年6月6日。很吉利的日子,发现了时光邮局。我是一个喜欢倾诉的人,也是一个多愁善感内心敏感的人。我会把我想说的话,说给未来的自己听。当下的我,是忙碌的、积极的、也算是快乐的。因为经历了情感、身体、事业等各个方面的磨练,让我成长成了如今强大的模样。我感恩自己在最艰难,最痛苦,最纠结,最无助
Jun 6, 2025 · Traveled 1 day
小目标
还记得给自己定的假期小目标吗,可能经常都在想吧,还在因为自己一事无成难受吗,嘿嘿,不难受看到这个也开始难受了吧,贱,对谁都贱,包括自己,反正让自己因为这个难受又没什么坏处,就当激励激励好了,说不定哪天就开始发愤图强了。对了,不要忘了,暑假把数据库的那个网站的题做一下,东西都在虚拟机里面,能多做就多做
Jun 7, 2025 · Traveled 22 days
等一下
我咧个豆啊,为啥发送不了啊,这怎么回事啊,我还想着实验成功了,以后时不时给自己写信咧
Jun 9, 2025 · Traveled 1 day
致明天
写给自己看一下,明天是否会更好我想问一下自己,这样真的值得吗
Jun 11, 2025 · Traveled 1 day
六六,来自三个月前的问候
亲爱的六六,我是三个月前的你,现在你的摆摊状况如何了?还是在西北了?有在上班吗?有困扰吗? 三个月前的今天是你的生日,从成年以来你第一次把生日过得这么平淡,其实你不是很开心,因为摆摊状况不好,和搭子理念也不一致,你昨晚还想着要做大做强变有钱,今天就很受挫了,应该说这几天都受挫,而今天你开始有点不耐烦
Jun 12, 2025 · Traveled 2 months 30 days
上大学的茜雯
2025年6月14日 星期六 晴 茜雯你好,现在的我本应为下个星期的考试而做出复习。但是 你似乎找不到任何的干劲,我开始为将来的你感到焦虑。我很害怕你考不上 也害怕离开大家身边。 日子一天一天的减少 感觉离校园的方向走的越来越远。 你还记得那个无数的夜晚 因怀念以前的班级以及大家 而留下的眼泪吗?
Jun 14, 2025 · Traveled 1 year 2 months
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
Write yours