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
May 22, 2016 · Traveled 2 years
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，下个礼拜就出分了，有些紧张吧，不过那天我去体检，准备开始学车了
断舍离修身
May 24, 2016 · Traveled 5 years
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 would has p
n1501
May 24, 2016 · Traveled 10 years
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，至少现在的我是这样的，还是希望你可以
有你足矣
May 26, 2016 · Traveled 8 months 6 days
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
May 26, 2016 · Traveled 4 years 2 months
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，说不定都有小家伙啦！不用操心啦！希
Lucky莹莹
May 30, 2016 · Traveled 5 years
给未来的自己
你好： 两个月以后的自己是不是会后悔当初没有把时间利用好，被懒惰所侵蚀呢。加油把，拯救自己才能更好，其实生命已经给了你不少的机会，为什么不好好抓住了。
n1504
May 30, 2016 · Traveled 2 months
写给未来的自己
妞，这一天，你是否已经做了你想做的事情，是否已经你青春小尾巴了一次，是否已经去过你想去的地方，是否已经找到了那个爱你的人，是否去珍惜你的朋友，还有你的家人，妞，我相信两年后的你会今天更加热爱生活，依旧在追求着你想要的东西，妞，我相信，两年后的今天，你过得会更好，可能在北京，也可能在别的地方，可能一个
遥不二
Jun 1, 2016 · Traveled 2 years
写给未来的我
现在的我高二，没有好好学习，那时的我后悔了么？
n1512
Jun 4, 2016 · Traveled 10 years
写给2017的自己
不知道明年的此刻自己会在哪里，休假了吗，学车了吗，还是一个人吗，存钱了吗，自己还在机关吗，会怎样去看这段时光呢，会拍出好的作品吗，会写很多文章吗，对迷彩路上是否有了自己新的理解，希望快点遇到那个你。
斲輪_OnTheRoad
Jun 5, 2016 · Traveled 7 months 2 days
给未来的自己，本本你好
今天是辞职找工作的等三天，一直想进的岗位没进，身上也只有哥给的两百元了，大学毕业很迷糊，不知道要做什么，写信目的是告诉你，也很想知道未来的自己在干嘛，希望也一个很漂亮，很爱的她出现，也希望你看到这个信的时候能做自己喜欢做的事
n1520
Jun 8, 2016 · Traveled 5 years
一份来自过去的信——邓力铭
不知道10年之后，我能否收到这封信。如果能收到，会是怎样的一种心情。 明天刚好是2016年的端午节。同时，今天也是2016年高考的最后一天，十年前的今天，对我来说具有特别的意义。如果真的有蝴蝶效应，那么我今天的一切似乎都在十年前已经注定，只是我不知道结果而已。10年前，我无法预知现在的我，我无法预知
littleming1987
Jun 8, 2016 · 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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