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
4433 public letters写给未来的…
一个月过去了，这个月过得怎么样，还是那么想她么，你们应该很久没有说话了吧，主动点，别怂。
n1477
2016.05.15
写给未来的…
又是一个月，过得还不错吧，上次叫你别怂可能你现在还没改掉这个毛病但是别灰心，一年过得很快，马上要考试了，↖(^ω^)↗加油，记住，你爱她……
n1477
2016.05.15
写给未来的…
7月了，过不了几天就要放暑假了，暑假要努力呦，要备战艺考了，记得临走时向她道别一下，向去年一样，偷偷牵一下她的手，你深爱着她，王雨心
n1477
2016.05.15
写给未来的…自己
我现在没有了那些患得患失的感觉了吧。是的，没收到玫瑰花，（免费的）也没关系了吧，不跟陈胜联系也没有关系了是吗？是的，我把自己爱好了，不再等待谁来爱了。曾经，我的努力和优秀是为了跟人匹配，但是我足够努力了，我有自身价值的存在，不要把自己随便放到缺爱的位子上了。跟曾经的我不同了，20
安琪
2016.05.17
宋立飞2016/05/17
是否准备好离开这所学校，开始自己的职业生涯，是否有所感触自己的折三年生活，后悔上研究生吗，觉得自己收获了吗，还是依然有自己的梦想，依然矢志不渝吗，还会向以前一样不敢前进，畏缩不前，没有信心争取自己想要的，还会依旧迁就别人，是否依然有一颗童心。
武威2010
2016.05.17
写给未来的…
我现在高一，16岁，十年后的我你现在对自己满意吗？
n1495
2016.05.21
写给即将高考的自己
现在的你马上要高考了吧、还在喜欢盖伦吗？你说过要和他考同一所大学的，你有努力吗，你现在应该预计到了自己的成绩了吧，会失望吗。说过要给弟弟们做榜样、在家里成为楷模、成为家里第一个考上大学的人，如果你现在很累，请记住“拼搏到无能为力、坚持到感动自己”加油
ggdgffhjgh
2016.05.22
来自五年前的一封信
嗨，自己： 你起床没？ 现在干么呢？ 上班了还是在寺庙呢？ 有对象了没？话说现在和小屁孩还联系不，这个时候她应该上大学了吧，肯定是个女神，长得好看学习还好。学霸中的女神，女神中的学霸。 内些坏习惯都改掉没？ 对了，咱考上本科了不？ 啊，下
断舍离修身
2016.05.24
写给10年后的机智艺
Dear Geary,when you see this letter,you are in 10 years later,30 years old（i wonder you would hansome as now）I hope you will glad that you w
n1501
2016.05.24
高三！
高三一个学期了，你对得起自己吗，追到鸭子或者其他人了吗，我觉得应该没吧，从她的阴影里走出来了吗，还是依旧颓废着，现在和朋友们相处咋样啊，对自己的未来有把握吗？还是没什么想法，还剩下一个学期，希望你可以好好努力，不为别人也要为自己，虽说文科生但是我还是比较喜欢理科，至少现在的我是这
有你足矣
2016.05.26
嗨，四年后的你
北京师范大学心理学学术型硕士的录取通知书到了吗？
冬日的阳光
2016.05.26
未来我你还好吗
你现在还给5年前一个鸟样么，还在迷茫吗！NND，要是还隔以前一样你都呆给自己两个耳光，都是有老婆的人了，咋能还不拼搏呢！希望你收到这封信的时候，你自己看到的时候可以自豪的说：孙子，现在我过的可好啦！就是以前咋想要的生活，你放心吧！咱会越来越好的！有深爱的媳妇陪着呢，说不定都有小家
Lucky莹莹
2016.05.30
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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