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 letters
Photo letter
五年后的你
哎呀，真是的，其实刚才已经写了一份了，说什么不是有效的邮箱地址，真是的，白写了，五年了啊，看到是不是很惊奇呢？这是在十八岁那年自己写的，希望五年后你能有所作为，有个事儿干，有个自己的小理想，小目标，虽然自己先天不足，后天还不努力，这样的你能有什么出息啊真是，但还是看好你啊，毕竟是我自己。
男子汉
Jan 21, 2018 · Traveled 5 years
Photo letter
给未来的自己
愿你今后一帆风顺
n2581
Jan 21, 2018 · Traveled 2 days
写给5年后的你
五年后的你，是否活得够本了，五年前的你伤了多少人的心，现在的你是不是已经娶妻生子，买上了车，住上了房，不用四处奔波了，不用吃了上顿没下顿了。如果没有做到的话，你真的太让我失望了
n2587
Jan 23, 2018 · Traveled 5 years
嘿，小美女！不、应该是大美女
嘿、你好呀！我是过去的你呀。我在上班呢！ 27岁。 你现在结婚了吧？有小baby了吗？王大平对你怎样呀？如果对你不好的话，就打他。你们的爱情已经转变成亲情了吧？你们快七年之痒了吧？你俩没有被生活的油米柴盐影响吧？ 事业怎样呀？培训机构应该早就开了吧？开得怎样啊？学生多吗？收入可观吗？挣够钱给父母买套
大叶叶叶子
Jan 23, 2018 · Traveled 5 years
给未来的我
你好，以后的我。你如果看到这封信，我很庆幸，你过了这几年。现在距离中考142天，我每天都很累啊。如果你过不下去了，请你务必坚持。如果你有喜欢的人，请你大胆。你是否记得你的愿望，去北极看极光，如果没有达成，请为之努力。现在的生活很轻松，比起以后来说，你要珍惜父母，他们老了。你要和姐姐好好的不要吵架。保
仍少年
Jan 23, 2018 · Traveled 5 years
来自三年前的自己
这时候的我应该即将毕业了吧，不知道你的志向还在嘛。现在的我还是单身。那现在呢？
n2592
Jan 25, 2018 · Traveled 2 years 11 months
Photo letter
勿忘初心 方得始终
嗨！高考后 或高考前的我 你好 我是高二上学期末的你 现在的我看电影看迟了 想你不要忘记 不骄不躁 努力拼搏 高考后的你 我想你应该实现高考目标了吧 如果是继续努力 不可狂 善待自己与家人朋友 合理规划 目标实现后 完善自我 为自己立一个更高的目标 开始新的征程 成为一个优秀的人 或者你正要上战场
用户6471532553
Jan 26, 2018 · Traveled 1 year 5 months
Photo letter
写给未来的…
愿年轻的你不再让生你的人受苦！愿年老的你不再让你生的人受苦！献给不知为何努力的你！！！！！
n2581
Jan 27, 2018 · Traveled 9 months 4 days
生日快乐 十六岁
考到哪啦 自己满意吗？ 满意就好了啦还追星吗 瘦了没啊？？哈哈哈努力加油！吴欣桐加油！ 为自己创造未来！
n1684
Jan 28, 2018 · Traveled 11 months 17 days
写给未来的…
1、新概念单词4册2、新概念书3，阅读7遍，单词熟练3、数学分析上学习完成4、算法21题5、文字检测论文7篇6、优达学城（机器学习完成）+机器学习（完成）+kaggle项目实践（两个完成）
n2577
Jan 28, 2018 · Traveled 7 days
写给2019年的董其安
不想给你太大的压力也不要你成为怎样的人我只想知道两个答案其一，你，还活着吗？其二，央儿还和你在一起吗？…跟你讲讲一年前的我。好累跟央儿在一起之后觉得好累但是我不知道该怎么办在没有做好任何准备的情况下我突然就成了那个负重前行的人是啊，多委屈但生活总是爱这么惩罚那个没准备的人都说恋爱会让人变得更好是这样
其安
Jan 29, 2018 · Traveled 1 year
写给三年后依然可爱的自己
哈喽宝贝是不是很健康的长大了，应该已经上学了了吧，和老公的感情还好吗？身边在乎的人还在吗？想要去做的事都做了吗？爷爷奶奶是不是依旧健康？事业如何？其实我最想问的是你还好吗？是不是依旧可爱依旧对生活充满希望或者迷茫？三年前写这封信的自己正是一个对事业对家庭对生活都很茫然的一个人，三年后不知道你有没有变
难拥友i
Jan 31, 2018 · Traveled 3 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
Write yours