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致重生的王绍源
你好呀,此刻你应该已经掌握了业务安全工作所需要的所有技能,同时开始在清华大学在职学习了吧。在此对你真诚地道一声辛苦,同时也要感谢2025年的我用尽全力告别了过去,把过去的成功与失败一笔勾销,重新昂首阔步地向前走。凡不能杀死我们的,必使我们更强大,继续攀登吧,亲爱的自己!
Feb 1, 2025 · Traveled 1 year
致重生的王绍源
你好呀,此刻你应该已经掌握了业务安全工作所需要的所有技能,同时开始在清华大学在职学习了吧。在此对你真诚地道一声辛苦,同时也要感谢2025年的我用尽全力告别了过去,把过去的成功与失败一笔勾销,重新昂首阔步地向前走。凡不能杀死我们的,必使我们更强大,继续攀登吧,亲爱的自己!
Feb 1, 2025 · Traveled 1 year
来自2025年二月三日的银杏树
啊哈哈哈哈啊哈哈哈哈,如果你能看到说明我又成功的活了一年。银杏树,我又想到了银杏树, 一个似乎贯穿我此前15年的东西,今年似乎消失了,银杏树的叶子黄了十五次,我也看了十五次,从小学开始一直到现在,因为银杏树黄了,代表着要放寒假了,要过年了。每一个学生最期待的便是寒暑假了,我还记得在小学的一节作文课上
Feb 3, 2025 · Traveled 1 year
来自2025年的邮件 请查收 我最亲爱滴静静
写给未来的自己 你好啊 亲爱的孟静 一年半过去了你过的还好吗 是否实现了2324年孟静想成为的超级大美女的心愿了吗 是否买到了自己购物车里想要的化妆品衣服包包了吗 见字如面 真的挺好奇过去的一年我会成为什么样的人呢 会不会变的特别好看 想我想的那样 那个时候你应该成年高三毕业了吧 恭喜你 脱离了未成
Feb 5, 2025 · Traveled 1 year 5 months
一封来自2025.2.6的信
未来5年的胡润幸你好呀。我是18岁的你。现在你的愿望是去很多地方,靠着自己的双手买好房子车子。虽然你现在刚失恋,并且很痛苦,但是你真的很棒呀!永远不要忘记他决绝的时候你是怎么一个人早上7:00起床爬去上班的奥。 18岁的你依然没有放弃对爱情的寻找,希望你找到一个真心爱你尊重你哄你小情绪的男生,如果在
Feb 6, 2025 · Will travel 4 years 10 months
致中考后亲爱的王梓文
OH!王梓文不知此时此刻的你在干什么呢?现在的我(2025.2.9)正坐在电脑前面专心致志的给你写信~此时的你已经中考完了!也应该拿到成绩了吧,考的怎么样啊~有没有摆脱二中的“压迫”呢~?此时时刻的你是不是窝在沙发或者床上玩着手机呢~!哈哈哈!想问问,你还想着那个他吗?哎呀~就是胡青宇啦!哦豁!你已
Feb 9, 2025 · Traveled 4 months 16 days
Photo letter
Lettre pour la moi dans 20 ans
Feb 14, 2025 · Will travel 20 years
来自2025年2月16号的信
哈喽呀!现在是2025年2月16号了,很准时收到了来自上一个月的我的信,非常开心,可以站在第三视角观察一个月前的自己~刚刚才写完开题报告,没想到这么晚才进行,导师小廖也没有沟通消息,哈哈可能是太放心我们了吧。今天是周日,所以并没有在忙工作哦,但是现在的你呢,工作强度饱和吗?还是干着同样的内容吗?还是
Feb 16, 2025 · Traveled 1 month
2025年flag
2025年flag,请查收《明朝那些事》看完了吗?
Feb 18, 2025 · Traveled 8 months 20 days
给100 天后自己的信
今天是 2025 年 2 月 19 日,距离考研出分还有 5 天,此时收到信的你已经知道最终的结果,也许正在等待着毕业吧,不知是不是已经有了下一步的打算呢,是考研成功上岸,还是成绩不尽如人意,准备二战?至少现在的我是不知道,我知道无论如何结果会怎样,你都是非常坚强,非常有韧性的一个人,生命之中不如意
Feb 19, 2025 · Traveled 3 months 11 days
朱鸿祥收
五年后我已经20岁了,考上喜欢的高中了么,追到自己喜欢的人了么,过得好么,去日本旅游了么
Feb 20, 2025 · Will travel 5 years
朱鸿祥收
再过5年我就20了,在这5年后我过得好么,追到自己喜欢的人了么,赚到钱了么,考上高中了么,
Feb 20, 2025 · Will travel 5 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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