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 lettersTo：momo（也许不再叫这个名字了？）
你还记得嘛？？ 我就是十年前的你哦(●´ω｀●) 不知道你有没有得到一个好工作啦 不知道你画画有没有提高很多啊 应该还没有出名吧。。因为现在的我实在是弱爆了呐呜呜゜*。(*´Д`)。*° 你还记得那个叫咬瑶的家伙嘛？她可是那个让你纠结了两年的speech哦。。。 我还是那么喜欢她呐。你的话 应该已经
momo
Mar 23, 2013 · Traveled 10 years
Photo letter
写给未来的吴婉桐02
我也不知道我能给未来的我写多少封信...我也没有把握我能坚持多久...反正我相信写信给未来的我这将成为一种习惯4月份了~亲爱的你有啥打算？3月份的你依旧是浑浑噩噩的过去了在与老朋友的争吵中度过了在和新朋友的打闹中度过了4月份你的打算怎么过？你自己看着办吧你的偶像大人即将高考凭你的资质，再不努力的话你
cri_桐
Mar 23, 2013 · Traveled 11 days
Photo letter
给未来的你 -Wxp.秀
寄给未来亲爱的你： 阿秀，哦，不对，吴熙萍。 这个时候的你还好么？ 会不会还是在玩着电脑看着最新的新番动漫呢，又或者是在听歌打小说聊天呢？ 这是个很好的网站，让我可以给未来的你寄一封信。这封信我不知道会让未来的自己，也就是你，会有什么感觉。 也许是当自己收到这封信的时候，自己才想起来，原来自己寄给了
俊硕
Mar 23, 2013 · Traveled 3 months
Photo letter
未来的你
你现在过得这么样啊，你现在结婚了吗，你把她忘了吗？她现在怎么样，她结婚了吗，她和你在一起吗？时间过得可真是快啊，转眼间十年就过去了。你还记不记得“她”是谁啊？她就是你当初暗恋过得女生。最开始你们只是朋友，之后你渐渐对她有了好感，大二的时候其实你有点喜欢她了，然后你暗恋她。有一天你知道她有男朋友了，你
履尘
Mar 23, 2013 · Traveled 10 years
Photo letter
A Letter For Future Me
I wish I can create a number of websites for the well-beings of human. I wish I can save and create enough money to build my own companies.I wish my h
n54
Mar 24, 2013 · Traveled 5 years
Photo letter
For Future Me
I wish to create some websites for the well-beings of human.I wish to save and create enough money to build my own companies.I wish to have many good
Jennifer827
Mar 24, 2013 · Traveled 5 years
TO:毕业后的自己
两年后的我，此时你在干嘛呢。你是不是真的没考研，是不是也没准备考公务员。你向来对那些随潮流的大众嗤之以鼻的。你是否被现实打败，或者说你已经接受了它。你身边的朋友应该都还在吧，也不会有多大的变动。这是不应该有的变动，大学四年就这样无声的飘过了。你肯定还是不喜欢湖南的气候，所以毕了业就想逃一般的回去。你
我不是你的卓别林
Mar 24, 2013 · Traveled 2 years
写给未来的蒋振东
六个月之后的蒋振东，你好，我是六个月前的你，六个月过去了，你追到了她了么？你现在快乐么？她现在跟谁在一起呢？你现在是讨厌她还是依然爱着她呢？她是不是还喜欢着侯睿？六个月了，你四级过了么？你奖学金拿到了么？不知道你现在是不是还坚持着，但是我坚持过，我也很希望你可以继续坚持下去。不要害怕任何外界因素，相
爱喝椰奶的我该长大了
Mar 24, 2013 · Traveled 6 months
Photo letter
希望有更好的自己
你总是很焦虑，周围的事情朋友会给你许多困扰，你不够努力，你知道自己想要什么，可是你就是不努力。你很天真，你还相信有你想要的感情，你相信你会找到自己合得来的朋友，自己愿意为之奋不顾身最后陪你看阡陌花开的人。你不是最美的，但你要足够坚强，坚强到无论怎样都无法把你打倒。相信那时的你，会是一个明朗灿烂的模样
n57
Mar 24, 2013 · Traveled 5 months 8 days
Photo letter
写给未来的…
你知道五年期的我有一天在思考着这样的一个问题：未来的我将会变成什么样的人呢？有人跟我说不要想这样没有结果和答案的问题，很伤脑子的，浪费时间，未来是意想不到的，现在就要把握好现在，不要太白日梦了。但是我觉得我这样思考思考，也蛮好的，因为毕竟我有为未来的我考虑，思考未来是个很重要的问题，无论你会过怎么样
Chris_H庆婷
Mar 24, 2013 · Traveled 5 years 4 months
唷！
望月：今天你高中已经毕业了吧？真是恭喜了。我啊，现在超~级想知道你现在是什么样呢？好想问问你现在手上拿着什么样的申请书呢，好想问问你他答没答应你的告白呢，好想问问你现在在什么坑里面呢，好想问问你曾经想过的个人本开始了没呢，好想问问你答应阿之的参本现在怎么样了……好多问题都想问你啊。如果可以真的，站在
望月キリ
Mar 24, 2013 · Traveled 1 year 2 months
Dear. Self
无论阴晴，结局都会好的，高考我来了。现在的你，希望在巴黎咖啡店喝下午茶，吃甜点，或者和我们的老公一起度假，无论贫富，幸福即好
蝉翼如水
Mar 24, 2013 · Traveled 10 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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