A Letter to Your Younger Self

A letter to your younger self is a letter you write to the person you were at a certain age: eight, fifteen, twenty-two, or any year that comes to mind. You write it with what you know now, and with the kindness you may not have had for yourself back then.

People write these letters for many reasons. Some want to say the encouraging thing nobody said at the time. Some want to forgive an old mistake, or simply tell that younger person that they made it this far. Many people find it helps them notice how much they have learned and grown.

This letter is for you alone. It never has to be sent, shared or shown to anyone. You can keep it, tuck it away, or let it go once it is written.

How to write it

Choose an age to write to, and let the first one that comes to mind be enough.

Picture yourself at that age: where you lived, what you wore, what was on your mind most days.

Start with a greeting that feels warm to you, such as "Dear you" or the nickname you went by then.

Write what you wish that younger person could hear, using the prompts below if you get stuck.

Keep your tone gentle, and if you start to scold your younger self, pause and try to speak as you would to a child you love.

Close the letter with a few words of comfort or hope, then sign it with your name today.

Prompts and sentence starters

Right now, at your age, you are worried about...
What do you most need to hear on your hardest days?
I wish someone had told you that...
What are you being too hard on yourself about?
Something you will be glad you held on to is...
Who in your life now would you love to tell your younger self about?
I forgive you for...
What small thing makes you happy that I hope you never lose?
You do not have to have it all figured out, because...
What would you say if you could sit beside your younger self for one afternoon?
I am proud of you for...
The thing I most want you to know about who you become is...