Yesterday I was feeling a bit down in the dumps. Perhaps it was all the Budget-based hoo-hah highlighting various depressing statistics about the state of the nation (not least the number of pubs shutting down on a weekly basis), perhaps it was the lingering after-effects of a peculiar happening over the weekend, perhaps the seemingly unremitting grey and rain. Whatever, I felt in serious need of cheering up. As it happens, that's exactly what happened. And it turns out I self-administered a big dose of print-related joy. I was meeting a contact for lunch, someone who was recently restructured out of their role, and who's in the process of looking at various new opportunities – both inside and outwith print – as a result. He looked tremendously well, and was on great form, so that was a good start. We started talking about the industry, of course, and some of the more worrying  happenings in our trade. And then it happened. I was telling him about the sort of contrasting conversations that can be had in the space of a single morning. Dear reader, I know I've mentioned this before: one print boss will be crying into his beard, the next will be telling me they've just achieved their best year of trading yet. I started reeling off some examples of print firms that were interesting and successful in one way or another. And I just couldn't stop! Real Digital, Inc Direct, Printed.com, Moo, Solopress, York Mailing, Eclipse Colour, Surface View…  I went on and on. My poor companion couldn't get a word in edgeways. It was cathartic. I felt elated. There IS more good than bad. This morning he sent me a lovely note saying I was an inspiration, whereas he had actually inadvertently inspired ME to have a print-based Monty Python moment. So, there we have it. Just add the right kind of print for instant happiness. And always look on the bright side of life. It really is too short not to. At this rate the sun will come out soon, as well.