‹‹ Colorado Matters

How writing a ‘legacy letter’ or ‘ethical will’ transforms the living

Listen Now
19min 44sec
Ryan Warner/CPR News
Dr. William Silvers, of Denver, right, and storyteller Nancy Sharp who helped him craft a legacy letter. December 20, 2022

A traditional will spells out who gets your stuff. An ethical will, or legacy letter, is a distillation of your history and values. Dr. William Silvers had just written one when he suffered a paralyzing sports injury. The venerated physician laid out his parents' Holocaust survival story. In the end, it gave him perspective on his own challenging journey. Writer Nancy Sharp, who helped Silvers craft his letter, also speaks with Colorado Matters Senior Host Ryan Warner.