To begin, there is an inspiring piece in Natalie Goldberg's book, Old Friend from Far Away, that is in the chapter titled "Ordinary."

She says: "I've said this in subtle ways, but yesterday after a book reading, an old student sidled up, not looking at me and said, 'My childhood wasn't so bad. I mean, well, I was brought up in Illinois.' "

"You mean, what if I had an uneventful, ordinary life, can I still write a memoir?" Natalie cut in.

The student nodded shyly.

"You know the answer," said Natalie. "What did Mies van der Rohe say? God hides in the details. Slow down and give them to us. We need to read about regular childhoods, otherwise, we won't know what they are..."

'A tremendous relief flushed across the student's face.'

"We need you," Natalie continues, "the ones who had a cough and your mother or grandfather was there to administer the syrup. Even if you had only one year when you were three when you tasted peace, let us know about that. The experience probably gave your fragile life a foundation. Share that ground with us. The important thing is to go below the clichés to touch the texture of your experience. Your mind is hungry to be alive."