You realize that we all live in the shadow of death, and that each day of life is a precious opportunity. In doing so, one confronts oneself. One must look inward to see what are the essential truths one has learned in a lifetime, face up to one's failures, and consider what are the things that really count. Thus an individual learns a great deal about himself or herself when writing an ethical will. Writing our ethical wills is not something we should put off.
Death can be sudden, even for teenagers and younger children.
Also, it's often best to write important material like this when we are fresh and unpressured by time. Starting early in life to write your ethical will can give you more time to record feelings from your heart as well as to interject pertinent historical facts. Remember, too, that sometimes very late in life our mental and physical capacities diminish, making it difficult or even impossible to prepare an ethical will. An ethical will is a gift to both the giver and the receiver. It helps us clarify our values and put life in perspective.