Bob Greene: I found extraordinary is the things that used to create anger in me, impatience, annoyance, arrogance, and various other emotions. By observing them and watching them somewhat dispassionately arise in my self, I've been able to lose some of their power over us. He says retreats are important to him because they allow you to see what is possible in principle. Greene: Reality doesn't last forever; life is not an endless meditation retreat. You wind up hanging on to this mindset as much as you can at the end of the retreat.