Why I write a letter to myself every New Year’s Eve. And seal it in an envelope.

In 1999, everyone was so excited, worried, and curious about the year 2000 that I got an envelope, wrote a letter to my future self, added items that I thought were relevant (to me), and sealed the envelope up.

I made a mini time capsule.

On the outside of the envelope, I wrote the date I sealed the letter and the date I was allowed to open it. True to my word, I waited until that day a few years ago, and when I finally opened it, I couldn’t help but giggle at my 10-year-old self.

Since then, I’ve carried on the tradition, though sporadically at first — only writing letters in years when I remembered to. But in the last five or so years, it’s become an annual ritual. Every year, at the end of December on New Year’s Eve, I sit down to write a letter to my future self.

Why I do it

The first year, it was all about the Y2K hype — “Omg, the computers won’t know what year it is!” I was 10 but that hype had me scared and curious about what the future would hold.

But over time, these letters became something more meaningful: a way to preserve my memories. I’ve always been afraid of forgetting important things — dates, people, experiences, or even the feelings that defined certain moments.

In my letters, I write sentences like, “I hope you’re living a happy life,” or describe where I hope to be someday. I include reminders of the people I’ve lost, the events that shaped my year, and even major world events. It’s my way of capturing a snapshot of life, both personal and universal before it fades into the past.

With the start of 2025 just around the corner, I’m preparing to write my next letter to my future self. In a few hours, I’ll seal it up with a date marked for opening, hoping that when the time comes, my future self will be happy, healthy, and fully embracing life in that moment.

Happy New Year, and may the coming year bring you clarity, growth, and moments worth writing to your future self about.

Originally posted here on Medium