1. The drink bottle story:
Some months ago I was dropped off at the Rydges Gold Coast Hotel and was asked “Have you got everything”. “Yes”, I replied. And then soon after, I realized that my drink bottle was still in the car. 4 months later I received an email from the hotel asking if I wanted my drink bottle back. Confusion in my head! How can they have it? It was going to be costly to post to me in NZ so I said no. I asked them where they found it and was told that someone had handed it in. Ah!! I checked and yes, the driver of the car had seen the bottle and returned within 15 minutes and handed it in. So I emailed the hotel again and requested that they return it to me at their expense, since the bottle was actually handed in soon after I checked in. No response, no drink bottle!
Learning: Its okay to not have completion. After that length of time, it was like a mystery story playing out. My mind did play out a few scenarios but playing was the thing.

2. Conflict with neighbour:
When I was away for a few days, my neighbours did some work in my garden. They had not talked about this beforehand with me. When I saw her, I said that I wanted her to discuss things like that before doing them. She was angry and went off in a tangent about not doing anything for me ever and “stared me down” after I reminded her that something else we had agreed on that she was going to do on my place, (chop the top off my bamboo so they get more sun) was to happen in spring. She wanted to do it now.
Learning: I found that I could be quiet in the midst of this. My preference is to avoid conflict and anger. This time I was present, strong, clear and allowing. There was a deep quiet love for my neighbour.

3. Gratitude:
Recently we stayed in Taupō and went to the Thermal Hot pools every day. One morning it was raining as we drove to the pools. It had been raining for hours. It stopped as we arrived there and by the time I was soaking in the pools, the sun was shining. I was glad. I was grateful. Then I wondered how I would have felt if it continued to rain. Would I have felt grateful then? I had not thought about hoping for the rain to stop beforehand so I assume that I would have still enjoyed the experience. I know I would have. I may not have thought about feeling grateful though.
Learning: I realized that gratitude is tied into getting what we want. And to thinking. It’s linked to what we feel comfortable or joyous with, or what we judge as good. Maybe we can stay present with the fullness of any experience.