IPOH Chapter 3 TAKE AIM

I didn't get what I wanted right away but I was able to obtain what I needed.
I started to finish my classes for Officer Development at the end of last summer, 2007. I was working toward Firefighter Specialist. I was also taking classes at UofR, full-time, so there was anxiety and stress that filled my life. So this is how I handled it:

INEFFECTIVE
*Drinking (not alot, but here and there, of course on my days off)
*Barking at the kids(which in some way made me feel like I had control, when I didn't)
*Staying in our little office at home(actually the kids playroom, but the computer is there)

BAND-AID
*Wanting to just give up
*Making excuses to not take the last class for ODP
*Basically saying to myself it doesn't matter if I get it or not

EFFECTIVE
Think
*Worked on confidence in myself by talking with other specialists

Do
*Developed better time management skills to complete classes, one by one
*Made sure that schoolwork, work, and other classes did not get in the way of the family

No matter how each person deals with his/her ineffective feelings, whether by having a drink or two, making excuses, the fact of the matter is the thing that each of us wants to try to gain will always be staring us in the face. Some of us will obtain our needs or goals and others may just give up. The one thing I have learned as a firefighter is: Never give up.
Now since I have what I wanted my life is back to normal, but then again what is normal?