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
4432 public letters
该上高一 如果你再不努力 你的未来都是笑话
该上高一了 身边的朋友真真假假的 好朋友不需要太多 有个两三个知足了 有时候对人家太好也没什么用 到头来照样散 背地里骂你什么你也不知道 所以以后要看清人 对你好的你对她好 不好的根本别搭理 表面关系我也觉得恶心了 以后的朋友 应该是个特别棒的人 我有夏欣然夏雨萌 有李晶梁卓张
你多沉默
2015.07.02
股市怎么样了？钱回来了吗？宠辱不惊，涨跌随意
股市怎么样了？唯一的信仰还在吗？这次的股灾国家挺住了吗？我会被击败吗？不能，我不能被击败，我要自己战胜
brianjohn
2015.07.03
写给未来是否还保持单纯天真的自己
当两年后自己看到这封或许可笑或许很傻逼的信时，我应该不会是今天这样的玻璃心了。当两年后觉得自己这封信写的傻逼的时候应该是成长了。当两年后或许自己还保持一份天真似傻逼当两年后自己没有那一份天真那份傻逼自己会不会怀念现在的自己。两年后的自己记住。现在的自己还有一份天真希望两年后的自己
n875
2015.07.05
写给一年后的你
一年了......中考已经过去一年了，一年前你已经为自己的自信买单了。现在的你应该在四中吧。你有没有好好学习呢？你是否尽自己最大的努力去学习了呢？不要忘记你最初的梦想。你只有这一条路走，别无选择。你自己选择的路跪着也要把它走完。韩萌萌，加油吧！希望一年后你没有让我失望。
国民美女
2015.07.06
写给未来的我
还记得吗 成年后的你第一次的流泪 为了μ's 本来有好多话想说的 但又不知道该说什么了μ's是我们很重要的一部分忘れないで 君と仆の足迹不要忘记 你我一同走过的路
n879
2015.07.06
一年后的我，你在哪里
你好，一年后的我。今天的我，刚刚敲定了第一本文集，自己掏腰包圆了一个梦，你高兴吗？当然，如释重负的感觉，虽说身上还是负债累累，下个月的房租也还是没有着落。但为什么，我对未来依旧是信心满满的状态，心里一点也没有焦虑的感觉。 一年后的我，你是否又发生了变化。你的生活，你的感情，
Rachel
2015.07.06
Hey！我是七年前的你。
嘿，你还好吗，还能够努力奋进吗？我是七年前的你，我知道这时的你肯定处于拼搏之中，也许会有各种使你崩溃的挫折。但是，爱儒生，你一定要勇敢走下去，因为，十年前你曾有这样的梦想！
爱儒生
2015.07.06
写给未来的我…
你说好的四年不换男神还记得么。不忘初心。我只愿你能够钟情一生。
n880
2015.07.06
写给一年之后的我
记住你一年之前的承诺书。记起来了吗 在三号楼复习 找王世杰 你把这个当作你最后的机会
平凡的世界
2015.07.07
Halo
未来的你在清华别颓废！他们在笑！
_北迹
2015.07.08
Halo
未来的你在清华别颓废！他们在笑！
_北迹
2015.07.08
写给未来的…TONY
最近刚买了房子然后自己觉得还不错的感觉终于有了自己名义下的第一套房子然后接下来 车也想换怎么人生好像除了车房都是这些鬼啊2016年的第一天怎么样 现在的你跟2015年7月的我有什么不一样呢？
托尼哥
2015.07.08
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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