In 2008 I wrote and posted this seven-part, self-directed Ethical Will Course. I felt it was time to bring it back and make it available to those of you who may have missed it the first time.
Photo by Caitlin Heller
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What a useful and generous post, Dan! Thanks for making this step-by-step educational help available to the world – I’ve passed this on to friends and family already.
Toodles,
C.
@Carolyn Thomas. Thanks, Carolyn. Happy that you’ve passed this course on to others.
Dan,
This is wonderful material to help people get started with their Ethical Will. The best part is that it doesn’t have to be (or even should be) done only at the end of someone’s life. I recommend writing or updating one at milestones in someone’s life, such as leaving college, getting married, having children, major accomplishments (or failures!), etc.
It is amazing to see how our personal values may change over the years. In addition, none of us know how long we’ll be around, so updating every few years allows us to reassess where we are in our lives.
Thanks for the repost. It’s a great topic.
bethlamie.com
@Beth Lamie. Thanks, Beth. The points you raise are really valuable. I’d encourage everyone to write their ethical will.
This is just wonderful Dan! How have you used this? It seems like it would make a great seven week long course. We people just don’t seem to get around to doing these projects without some support and guidance. Thought you mention a notebook I envision a three ring binder with seven sections and these seven sets of instructions, plus plenty of lined paper to go into each section. Maybe you could have an eighth session a couple weeks after the 7th when everyone was to bring back and read their completed and hand written ethical will. How fun that would be to work together through this project. Have you actually used it in some such of a fashion? I love it.
Ellen
@ellenlandreth. Thanks, Ellen. The course is adapted from the numerous Ethical Will workshops I’ve run over the years. I like your idea of the three-ring binder and an eight week course. Why don’t you try it and let me know what happens?
I’d like to. I’ll see what I can do.