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
3795 public letters2年的蜕变
1.嘿，傻傻的自己，我多想抱一抱两年前的你，在两年前的今天，早上不到5点就醒来了，发现头发还是没有被吹风机吹直，逼着自己不得不接受自己头发拉不直的现实，就算用吹风机吹直了，效果也和普通的不一样，逼着自己去接受整个大学都不能拥有一个美美的，自己幻想了无数次的头发，因为要等两年，头发才能拉直，而此时的你
n2021
Apr 21, 2017 · Traveled 2 years
for future xinky part.65
no.65时间好快哦，尤其是写了这东西，越发感觉时间流逝得快最近几天都是下一会雨就停，似乎并没有想让天空变蓝的意思4.20 20:28
过去的星奇
Apr 25, 2017 · Traveled 3 months 30 days
for future xinky part.66
第六十六天，下午雨是特别大啊，⁽˙³˙⁾◟(๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)◞⁽˙³˙⁾既然要下雨就全部下完不就好了嘛，还要留一些。。。我猜我明天出去肯定下雨，没出去就聚势⁽˙³˙⁾◟(๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)◞⁽˙³˙ 看书真的会沉迷的啊，沉迷格列佛无法自拔 4.21 20:43
过去的星奇
Apr 25, 2017 · Traveled 4 months
for future xinky part.67
第六十七天，早知道就不出去了，可怜的我又受伤了( •̥́ ˍ •̀ू ) 我碰到坏事自然有人有好事(✪▽✪) 澈生日快乐!(^O^)y4.22 21:16
过去的星奇
Apr 25, 2017 · Traveled 4 months 1 day
for future xinky part.68
第六十八天，下午出去听说其他人也遇到不顺心的事了，我瞬间“平衡”了(ಡωಡ)hiahiahia 然后就没了，某试卷也没搞到 梵星似乎不怎么OK啊( •̥́ ˍ •̀ू )qq群能出个等级管理就好了，给这个管理一些权限，给那个管理一些权限 4.23 20:58
过去的星奇
Apr 25, 2017 · Traveled 4 months 2 days
for future xinky part.69
第六十九天，这天我又忘了写， 但是我还记得我这晚知道作业帮有个玩竞答的游戏，然后我就迷上了诗词竞答，尽管我什么也不会，这个时候应该@zzy她懂得多啊，然后我就背下了这首诗，诗名忘了xdddd挽弓当挽强，用箭当用长。射人先射马，擒贼先擒王4.25 20：:56
过去的星奇
Apr 25, 2017 · Traveled 4 months 3 days
for future xinky part.70
第七十天，诗词竞赛无法自拔，前世作孽得某同桌，人工zz真厉害，话说看小说也能学古诗啊，这两首都是我看小说提到的所以才会喜欢上，下面是又迷上的新诗和张仆射塞下曲·其二作者：卢纶 (唐代)林暗草惊风，将军夜引弓。平明寻白羽，没在石棱中。4.25 21:00
过去的星奇
Apr 25, 2017 · Traveled 4 months 4 days
Photo letter
今天的你
嘿！三年了，今天的你还好吗？小孩会走了吧？写这封信的时候小屁孩才十几天呢！如果会像个跟尾虫一样跟在你身后喊爸爸了吧！父母身体怎样了？还像三年前一样好吗？ 如果今天你的生活条件还是没得改善那你真的该好好努力了，光阴几十年，有多少个三年呢！努力过后的生活才是最充实的，不要再继续浪费下一个三年了。好好做个
陈大文
Apr 27, 2017 · Traveled 3 years
黄小姐 你还好吗
黄小姐 生日快乐！最近还好吗 你记得这封信吗 29岁的你又是什么模样呢你还爱听歌吗 风格变了吗 还有多少朋友在你身边 你 结婚了吗你 满意29岁的自己吗 你 还记得初心吗我想和你讲讲24岁的你 我怕时间太久会忘记 我怕你会和现在的自己背道而驰 我怕没有人安慰你唔 24岁的你啊 还关注着张杰 但更喜欢
vivi黄
Apr 28, 2017 · Traveled 5 years 5 months
这是一年前的我写给一年后的我的一封信
写给一年后的我。今天我看了天涯论坛上的一篇帖子，如果你能回到1997.眼泪止不住的流，害怕一个不经意间的举动会让我遗憾一辈子。不知道一年后的我有没有让这个遗憾发生，但愿是没有的。作为美术生的我现在有些迷茫，校考成绩并不理想，文化课有点悬，一年后的我应该已经上大学里吧，不知道是什么大学。那我还是祝愿一
皇冠SEA
May 1, 2017 · Traveled 1 year
23岁说：希望你每个年龄段都可以努力工作快乐生活
23岁，在装饰公司实习近半年，对未来充满未知，每天生活在压力下。27岁的自己，不管你是否还在做这份工作，希望能记住：如果一份工作需要你牺牲自己的身体本钱，那就快放弃吧。现在的我虽然懂这个道理，却做不到。我知道到了27岁，可能已经有家庭，烦心事故然多，但别让它占据自己的生活。最重要的一点，希望27的
颜颜颜
May 1, 2017 · Traveled 4 years
23岁说：24岁请你努力
我与你有个四年之约，请你好好努力，充实自己，快乐生活~要学会开导自己，别让负能量占据好心情~爱你，问候妈妈~
颜颜颜
May 1, 2017 · Traveled 1 year
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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