A Letter to Your Future Self
Write a letter to the person you'll be one year from today. Share your hopes, your worries, what you're proud of, and the chances you plan to take. Seal it, date it, and open it in a year to see how far you've come.
How to do it
- Start with "Dear Future Me."
- Write about today: your life, worries, and joys.
- Share your hopes for the year ahead.
- Seal it, write "Open on" with the date, and tuck it away.
Why this chance matters
A year goes by faster than we expect, and we rarely pause to notice how much we've grown. Writing to your future self captures who you are right now, and it quietly sets intentions for who you're becoming. When you open it a year from now, you'll likely be surprised: by worries that worked themselves out, by dreams that came true, and by how much you've handled.
Ideas for what to write
- What a normal day looks like for you right now.
- What's worrying you, and what's bringing you joy.
- One chance you hope to take this year, and why.
- Something you want to remind your future self, like "Be gentle with yourself" or "Call your sister more."
- A question you'd like your future self to answer when they read it.
Keep it safe: Put the sealed letter somewhere you'll find it, like with important papers, and set a reminder on your calendar for the opening date.
Only have five minutes? Write three sentences: "Right now I am... I hope that by next year... Remember that..."
Make it fun: Make it a family tradition. Everyone writes a letter on New Year's Day or a birthday, and you read them together a year later.
Ready to make your hopes happen? Turn one of them into a plan with the Wish-to-Action Plan, or take stock with the Fresh Start Check-In.
Did you take the chance? Tell us how it went on the Wall of Chances. Your story might inspire someone else to try.