How to write a letter to your younger self

A letter to your younger self is written to you at an earlier age: eight, fifteen, twenty-two, the year before a big change. You tell them what you know now that they didn't.

It is a common writing exercise, and many people find it helps them look back more kindly.

Pick an age

Choose a moment you remember well. It might be a first day somewhere, a hard year, or a time you were proud of yourself. The clearer the picture, the easier the letter.

Things to tell them

Something that worked out better than they feared.
Something they were right about all along.
A worry they can let go of, because it didn't matter in the end.
A person they should keep close.
What you're proud of them for, even if they couldn't see it then.

Keep it kind

It is tempting to list mistakes. Try writing the way you would to a friend that age instead. The letter tends to say as much about who you are now as about who you were.

Something you need to say?

In Said, Not Read, make a contact for your younger self, with a nickname or an old photo, and text them. It can feel lighter than a letter and closer to how you talk.

Make a contact, write it out, and watch it send.

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Questions

What age should I write to?

Any age works. Many people pick a time of big change, such as starting a new school, a first job, or the year your family moved.

Can I write to my future self instead?

Yes. A letter to your future self works the same way in reverse: say what you hope for, and what you want them to remember about now.