We spend so much time planning for what comes next. The next milestone, the next achievement, the next chapter of life. But how often do we pause to write to the person we are becoming?

A letter to your future self is more than words on a page. It is a time capsule of who you are today, carrying forward your hopes, wisdom, and love for the person you will be tomorrow.

Here are some stories that show how powerful those letters can be.

Lily Before Graduation

Lily was a sophomore in college when she wrote her first letter to her future self. She scribbled down her dreams of graduating, finding work she loved, and keeping her closest friendships strong. She sealed the letter in an envelope and tucked it away.

On the day she walked across the stage to receive her diploma, she opened it. Reading her younger self's words filled her with pride. She realized she had achieved more than she thought and that her past self had believed in her all along.

Marcus Starting a Family

Marcus became a father at twenty-eight. Overwhelmed with new responsibilities, he wrote a letter to his future self, picturing the man he hoped to be when his child turned eighteen. He wrote:

Years later, as he prepared for his child's high school graduation, he reread that note. It was a reminder that the father he wanted to be was the father he had become.

Ava on a Hard Day

Ava struggled with self-doubt through her twenties. One night, she sat down and wrote herself a message:

She set a reminder for the letter to arrive in her inbox five years later. When it did, she was working in a career she loved, surrounded by friends who supported her. Reading her own encouragement made her realize she had become the woman she once only hoped she could be.

Daniel's Promise

Daniel was training for his first marathon. To motivate himself, he wrote a note to his future self on race day:

At mile 22, exhausted and ready to quit, he pulled out that crumpled note from his pocket. It gave him just enough strength to keep moving. Hours later, medal around his neck, he smiled knowing his past self had carried him to the finish.

The Power of Self-Reflection

Letters to your future self are reminders that we are always growing, always changing, always becoming. They help us see how far we've come and encourage us to keep moving toward who we want to be.

That is why we built When I Was Here. To make it possible for anyone to capture their voice today and deliver it to the moments when it will matter most. Because sometimes, the most powerful message you can receive isn't from someone else. It is from the person you once were, reminding you of everything you are capable of becoming.

Think about the person you want to be in five years, ten years, or even twenty years. What would you tell that version of yourself? What wisdom would you share? What encouragement would you offer? What dreams would you remind them to chase?

These aren't just letters—they're bridges between who you are and who you're becoming. They're reminders of your own strength, your own wisdom, your own capacity for growth and change.

And the beautiful thing is, you don't have to wait for a special occasion to start writing them. Every day is an opportunity to capture your voice and send it forward in time, to arrive exactly when your future self needs to hear it most.