Tut tut, looks like rain ...

We've all had that day when we feel like a bedraggled cartoon character who's being pursued by a malevolent rain cloud. It seems as though the sun is shining on everyone else, but not on us. But you can break free. Inspiring, right?

We thought so. After all, editors have bad days, too. And we love the advice business coach Christiane Holbrook gives in "Don't Let a Dark Day Dampen Your Mood".

Yes, we know staying engaged and taking care of ourselves will help keep us sane. But we still don't always do the things that we know we should. Here's the problem: "When you don't sleep enough, eat the right foods, and exercise, you feel irritated, tired, and grumpy," Holbrook says. Hmmm. That explains a lot. Because I actually find I'm less likely to exercise and more likely to skip a meal when I'm feeling stressed than I am when everything's hunky dory.

Marnette Falley

On the other side of the coin, when you feel great, you can handle anything, right? So, like so many things, a bad day has a lot to do with your perspective.

Here's a case in point: If you're 7 years old, stomping in rain puddles is fun. The experience is a gift that the sky and the parking lot didn't offer the day before. The rainy day's a plus, not a problem. And when I watch my daughter eye the possibilities, I become convinced that I worry too much about getting my feet wet.

Now, I confess that my team members had to talk me into both the pink boots and the photo. (Just so you know, they laughed when they thought of it—and when they saw this picture.) The flashy footwear's a bit of a stretch for me. But the pink boots do express a sunny attitude that I like. And I've decided they're my new solution.

I'm going to stomp in that next big puddle in my life and smile no matter what. Even if I see lots of other problems piling up. (And I will eat an apple instead of cheese puffs.)

Whether your storm clouds come in the form of your mother-in-law, an allergy attack, a series of tough cases, or cranky clients, I hope your team will join ours in the whole-hearted effort not to wallow. Find your own strategies to make your team laugh and regroup. And head for a brighter, sunnier spot.