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. You can even include a photo.
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).
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.
· Future Postbox cannot host any form of pornographic imagery.
· 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, 2011
From:
Samantha Vickery
To:
Samantha Vickery
Date to be sent:
November 12, 2012
Hey future me, Did you get through it? Did you get past it? You wasted a year, but you realised that you couldn't keep letting it stop you from being who you are. Did you heal in the UK? Did you live in Japan? Did you return to NZ with a new determination and build your new life? I hope that the way you felt in November 2011, and all of 2011, is something that you can't even imagine feeling now. I hope that you are stronger for it, wiser for it, and never need to go through it again. All the best, Past me
February 28, 2014
From:
Ski Greenidge
To:
Ski Greenidge
Date to be sent:
February 28, 2015
Dear Ski, I hope that when you read this letter you are a better you. I hope that all your dreams are fulfilled- that you finished your degree and got as close to upper seconds honours as you could, that you made peace with your past and forgave yourself for your mistakes in general and with men especially, that you became the Christian that you wanted to be and that you discovered your dream job. You have been so hard on yourself and I hope that now you have discovered what it truly means to love yourself. You can do it! You are so strong and you deserve to be happy. Achieve your dreams. Love always, S.
