One of the marks of our species is our limitless capacity to learn. Sometimes we learn how to do something we’ve never done before. Sometimes we learn facts about the world, about other people, and about ourselves. This can make us smarter and more skillful. But what’s really important are the things that make us wiser, our learned beliefs about what works and what doesn’t, what leads to happiness and fulfillment.

It’s a tradition in many Jewish families for parents to pass on these life lessons in an “ethical will.” The document, often in the form of a letter, is a kind of spiritual and intellectual autobiography that can be a treasured memento to future generations. In addition, the experience of putting nuggets of hard-earned wisdom into words can be enormously uplifting and gratifying. There’s no prescribed format, but an easy way is to complete the sentence: “I’ve learned that ________” or “I believe that _________.”

Once you start thinking of all the valuable things you’ve learned, you’re likely to unleash a flood of thoughts. To help you identify and sort through what’s important, it can help to state your insights and beliefs in relation to 12 key topics:

1. Religion, faith, and spirituality
2. Personal integrity, character, and ethics
3. Marriage and family relationships
4. Friendship and other relationships
5. Money and material possessions
6. Success and failure
7. Education and experience
8. Personal responsibility
9. Attitude
10. Charity and service
11. Drinking and drugs
12. Sex

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.