We all want what we want and we want it right now! This impatience is because of our quest for perfectionism which causes us to lash out without even thinking. That is the key. We don't stop and think before we open our mouths and stick our feet in. We are always in such a hurry! And hurrying never got us any place faster. It just stressed us out and caused us to have an accident or do things we regretted later.

We have to get our rest, slow down and think about what we are doing before we do it! Our routines help us with our impatience. The routines guide us in doing what we really need to do first, and they free us up to be patient with those around us.

The really sad part is that we feel that we are justified in being impatient. This does not give us a license to be rude, hateful, use an ugly tone of voice to get our message across or to use four-letter words.

Now listen to me closely. I am just as impatient as many of you are and have been known to blow a gasket. I think about why I am upset. I can see what is wrong. Many times I am too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. This is when I HALT and take care of myself. I am learning that I can accomplish much more if I use this method instead of the "blow-a-gasket" method; which really did nothing but inflict collateral damage on everyone around me, including myself.

Whenever we pitch a fit like this we may think we are getting our way, but in the long run, what goes around comes around. We reap what we sow and if we sow discontent and impatience, we will reap more anger and rebellion along with passive-aggressive behavior just to get back at us for our fit. I want you to think about a 2-year-old and a temper tantrum. The child wants to be heard. As long as the child is pitching the fit; no one is hearing anything. The crying chair is one answer. This is a specific chair just for crying, then the child is allowed to get up and come tell you exactly what he wants in a nice and kind way — not demanding!

When we pitch a fit in our family or in public it doesn't matter how many times we try to apologize for our actions; they don't believe us. It is our actions that speak louder than our mere words of regret for our tantrum. If we don't stop this behavior we are going to lose our families and ourselves.

Rita Davenport taught me that when we do or say something negative in a fit, it takes seven nice actions to erase the bad that we have done. We have a lot of erasing to do. All we can do is jump in where we are and stop this impatient behavior right now. Your new ways of taking care of yourself are going to help you get rid of your impatience. Old dogs can learn new tricks. Once we realize that what we have been doing is not working for us. We can only change our behavior and when we do; the way people react to us will be much different from the past. You have to set the example in love.