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.
November 12, 2012
From:
Lee Crockford
To:
Lee Crockford
Date to be sent:
November 12, 2013
Guten Morgen Future Leesome! Ok - well here goes! After 12 months of running this site, it's about time that you took a dose of your own medicine and actually wrote to yourself! It's an early Monday morning here in Hamburg - you've just sat down at your favourite haunt "Lieblingsplatz" in HafenCity. The coffee is yet to kick in, so please ignore any spelling or grammatical errors... There is now three weeks left here in Germany before before you fly out to Iceland for some northern light shenanigans with Shayne. To keep this short, here are some major events of points of note at the moment: - Nan died just a few weeks ago. Being so far away from home you often don't remember to think about her, which just makes you feel even worse. Make sure you miss her every day - she was a special little lady. And make sure you never, ever lose grandad's ring! - You're currently having a bit of a crisis over what to do work wise when you get back to Australia. You desperately don't want to go back to QUT. Ideally you'll be working full time for STFU and actually be getting some credit for the work - It was only a few weeks ago that you finally "let your hair down" and started "exploring". It has been awesome / horrible / eye opening and new. Why did it take you this long? And more importantly, what are going to do about it now? Hmm...? - Tam's about to start IVF in a few days - Shayne just broke up with Kev. Nothing too surprising, but she's just started dating some Irish guy - we've been calling him potato. She thinks she's in love... Oh dear... - Obviously you're in Germany! Don't forget how awesome it's been. Even if living with 16 people 24 hours a day has worn you down at times, please remember how much of an amazing experience it has been. Also Ritter Sport. - Adam and Cara are having "squidge" in less than two months. How terrifying! But hopefully you'll get to be a ninja-dad! Future Lee, here are some things that past Lee wanted by November 2013: - Be awesome at German! - Be almost ready to leave for Germany - or somewhere else in the world - Have your own one bedroom apartment in the city / valley (this may not happen if you're saving for Germany...) - Have cut down the number of jobs... - Oh, you should have also completed your dream plan by now! It better have been freaking awesome! - Please be in a relationship. You're getting too damn old to still be single. Yes, you like being single and not needing to be needed - but suck it up tacker. You've got to grow up one day! - Hopefully be looking good - please have somehow found a way to enjoy the gym and to go regularly. Maybe Rick has helped you with this? - God these are such banal requests... But perhaps that's what you need - some stability. - Oh, and hopefully you've made more of an effort at Guthrie Street to do stuff! Stop working quite so much (or don't, whatever) but at least be social. Go to the night markets, go for a beer, have people over more often! Be less lame, you antisocial workaholic.... Hmmm.. there's probably lots you should be saying to yourself at this point, but it's quarter to 9 and you have to get to the academy... I hope the last 12 months has been awesome - full of ups and downs and twists and turns. If you had written to yourself 12 months ago you wouldn't have thought that you'd be in Germany, so enjoy the ride! Be cool, man :) Past Leesome
February 2, 2012
From:
Veronica Smith
To:
William R. Brown
Date to be sent:
February 2, 2013
Hello, Thank you so very much for taking time out of your life to read this brief note. I would like to say that as a human being , it is not easy to live amongst my pears because of the way our world is set up. I have good days for sure .,but my plea to you and who ever may read this is: Please take care of one another and please care for those who are defenseless against us! Yes, us! WE are a hardened peoples. Care for the planet in which we inhabit and respect that which cannot give you anything in return.. The animals!! I love you and thank you very much for you precious time. Veronica Caroline Smith
