Stephen King advises against the use of a writer’s notebook because “it’s a great way to immortalize bad ideas.”

As he explains, life is a giant sifter for your memories and it’s the good stuff that stays behind. In this context, he is referring to good ideas and he’s correct–they never leave you–but he also points to something more.

The memories that stick with us over the years on on the extremes: really good and really sad.

I suppose it’s the reason we reflect on our childhood and adolescence with a filter of how we are now. If we’re in a good spot, we look at the tough parts of our childhood as resilience building lessons and remark how the good stuff was part of the ‘good ol’ days.’

The fact I laugh with my mom about how many wooden spoons she broke over my rear is a testament to how awful I must’ve been and how good things are now.

Sometimes, I think we try too hard to create good memories and forget that regardless of what you do, the good stuff will stay with you.

And the good stuff is usually the unexpected and it’s always in the details.