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 letters21岁的我致28岁的我
你脱单了吗?有女朋友了没有?妻子贤惠贤惠吗?7年前你与初恋女友和平分手,现在怎么样了?你现在过得好不好?
n1587
2016.07.21
21岁的我致23岁的我
现在实习得怎么样?还迷恋当初玩的LOL吗?专业知识学得怎么样?
n1587
2016.07.21
写给三十二岁半的于特
好于特，我说一年前的你自己。现在你回国两年了。现在的你是不是和我预期的一样，健康上：保持lean as fuck 的身材。工作上：公司的业务是否非常透彻了，从前到后从里到外都非常了解。he和比尔盖茨了解他的行业一样。有没有把律师或会计等证书拿到一个。 个人发展上：是否还在每天努力
n1590
2016.07.21
写给未来的zrrrrrrrr
未来的我，你好！！！！今天是你最好的朋友詹筠娴的生日你还记得吗？？詹筠娴一定一辈子都忘不了你！！！！她是你一辈子的好朋友！！！请你一定要去祝贺她，无论这些年间你们发生了什么，请你一定不要忘记小学和她一起度过的美好时光，她一直在帮你。请你一定要给她最诚挚的祝贺哦！
zr
2016.07.21
未来的你——————————朋友
未来的你，你好。我是十年前的你，你还记得你的好朋友吗，小学的，初中的，等等等等，现在我还只是个小学生，不知道未来有多美好，让我告诉你你小学的朋友是谁吧，炘彤，欣彤，邓茜，伍嘉珊，晓莹，雅浠，玉婷，那些现在也许见不到的好朋友。你现在是做什么工作的呢，是否像你小时候定下的道路————
n1591
2016.07.22
⁽⁽٩( ´͈ ᗨ `͈ )۶⁾⁾将来的你
将来的我，你好呀。不知道现在的你是否得到一个令自己满意的高考答卷，但愿你尽人事，听天命，尽自己最大努力啦，真是希望你得到你所想要的，不要让自己曾经的努力被辜负。永远爱自己。
机智的空烛烛
2016.07.24
不忘初心
未来的你 你好呀 那时候的你会在干嘛呀 你会想到今天会有一封信 你应该肯定忘了？ 你还好么? 吉吉哥？ 呵呵 现在不知道该说些什么？ 你有妹子了没? 漂不漂亮? 现在是晚上22.34分 刚才写了一封 但是外国 的 发出去还要 钱 ╮(╯▽╰)╭
欧尼绛
2016.07.24
来自2016
隋欣: 很高兴你能读到这封信。我想现在你已经高考完了吧？感觉如何？希望你没有辜负这么多年的努力。你现在的目标是什么？十个月前你的目标是北外＞北语＞首师，现在你能考上其中的哪一个吗？还是什么别的好大学？是在北京吗？能和译儿在一所大学吗？ 不过无论如何这都不重要了
透明
2016.07.25
写给自己的4个问题
此刻的你在做些什么呢？找到你喜欢的人没有？你去日本了吗？你还忠诚自己吗？
胡小俊
2016.07.25
写给未来的…
亲爱的自己，此时此刻你正在做什么呢？身边有没有人给你庆祝生日呢，我想你应该有工作吧，在奋斗吧。如果此时的你正处于低谷，请不要气馁，继续加油努力，也许我还是没男朋友，but so what?我还是可以放声大笑，好好生活，相信一切都会好起来的。
一只在彷徨中奋斗的猪
2016.07.25
10年前的童林开
Dear FutureMe,惯例，现在在干嘛？十年后的你，的今天，你，过的怎样？结婚了吧？或者又离婚了？鬼知道，呵呵，我还是那么的不乐观。工作，应该还是写代码吧？为什么要说应该，呵呵，现在都还没开始写代码呢，我现在在学代码呢，炎热的夏天，html5，智游教育，小公司，哈哈，你懂的
lincolntong
2016.07.26
不如我们一起努力，未来的我
已经颓废了好长时间， 努力学习吧，不要费 了好吗。happyhappy 把英语学好哦
n1606
2016.07.28
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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