Write a letter to the future
It's pretty simple.
Step One
Write a letter. It can be as short or as long as you want. It can be to someone else or yourself. It can be public or private.
Step Two
Choose the date you want the letter to be delivered to the recipient. This could be tomorrow or in a few years—your choice!
Step Three
That's it! Everything else is automated. So, sit back, relax, and read letters by other people. Or, you can support the site.
Is it really free?
Yes. Future Postbox is completely free—it's a side hobby of The Postman who runs the site. That said, the site does cost money to run and The Postman has some lofty dreams of where it could all go:
· Imagine being able to send messages based on geography, temperature, or factors other than just time!
· Imagine sending different types of media: Videos, documents, voice messages, and more!
· Imagine having your own app and account where you can keep track of all the letters you've sent and received!
Perhaps one day, but that all costs money and The Postman is a volunteer. If you'd like to support the site visit Future Postbox's support page.
What do you write?
Whatever you like! People use Future Postbox for lots of different reasons. Some use it as a time capsule of thoughts and feelings, some use it as a way to set or track goals, some use it to say the things that are too hard to say face-to-face, and others use it as a daily journal. If you're after more inspiration, you can read letters others have written. NB: There are some limitations on explicit content (see below).
I used to be able to upload images! What happened?
In short: cost. The Postman runs this site without income and the cost of collecting and hosting images became too expensive (I'm looking at you, Webflow!) . If you already wrote a letter that included images, rest assured your letter will still be delivered with the images attached.
Are there any limits on content?
Future Postbox is a place of love and good vibes.
· The Postman will not tolerate any form of cyber bullying, trolling, or illegal activity.
· Letters may be screened and The Postman reserves the right not to send, delete, or forward your letter to any relevant authorities.
· Anyone under the age of 18 should seek permission to use Future Postbox from their parent or guardian.
· Please refer to the Data and Privacy Policy for more information.
Is it automated?
Yes! As of October 2023, Future Postbox is now completely automated. In the past, The Postman manually sent every letter. This was not only tedious but resulted in some occasional issues with consistency of delivery (The Postman apologises to anyone affected). So, the service should now be a lot more reliable! Oh, you may wish to add the email address thepostman@futurepostbox.com to your safe senders to avoid messages going to spam.
What's the difference in privacy options?
· If you select "This letter can be public", your letter can be read by others via the read page. If you've made your letter public, but later change your mind, send an email to The Postman with your details and it will be removed from the public page.
· If you select "Keep this letter private", then it will only be sent to the intended recipient.
What does The Postman do with your data?
The Postman is extremely cautious with your data. Primarily, it's used to:
· Get the letter to where it needs to go.
· Provide you (extremely infrequent) updates about Future Postbox.
For more information, please read Future Postbox's full Privacy Policy.
A glimpse at what other people have written.
February 28, 2014
From:
Rebeka Adcock
To:
Rebeka Adcock
Date to be sent:
February 28, 2015
Dear future me, It's February 28th February and I'm sat in my University dorm room after just letting Ben Percival in (I'm hoping you're still friends with him, he's a nice guy). You've just gone through your first heartbreak and I'm hoping you've moved on from that now because it's been a year and you should. If you have, then I'm pleased because it means you're living your life; as you should be. If you haven't, then that's okay too. Heartbreak takes a while and it's okay to love and still love. There's nothing you can do about that, it just means it will take a bit longer than we anticipated. I hope you're still friends with him and everyone from Cefn y Coed though because they're decent people and it would be a shame. Maybe you need more time than you originally thought. You should be reading this in your new flat with Llinos, Sarah, Emma and Amanda. The one above the Launderette? If you've ever had a tiff or got annoyed with any of them, remind yourself of why you chose to move in with them. You could have decided you didn't want to with any and you did for a reason - because you love them. Show them the love. Show everyone love. Show the street you walk on love and let it fill you up so it almost hurts. (Love shouldn't hurt, which is why I say almost). Buy a meal for the homeless person sitting outside Morrison's or give someone a 'you are beautiful' sticker to make their day bright. Try and do something every day because that will make you better. And if you're depression has returned, that's okay. I'm here for you - I always have and I always will be. Just like every person that's in your life. It's okay to keep battling, because it means you're a warrior. It means you can save you have battle scars and that you were victorious. If anyone judges you for them, it's down to them not understanding. It's not because you're a horrible person - and I hope you've accepted that by now - it's because you're you and you've battled a different war. Keep fighting and loving and you'll be okay. You might not be great, but it's a place to start so you can be. Healing takes time. Have patience. Breathe. Me.
May 14, 2015
From:
Johan Svensson
To:
Johan Svensson
Date to be sent:
May 14, 2016
Ta tag i studierna, plugga ordentligt och slarva inte som du gjort förut, skapa ett hållbart förhållande med någon som passar dig.
