Dear Garby, I am an upbeat, positive person, or at least I try to be. When I get to work, I think people should leave their problems "at the door". However, there are 1 or 2 of my co-workers who come to work with a sour look on their faces, and they bring the rest of us down. How can I stay upbeat when they are so negative? Putting on a Happy Face in Atlanta

Dear Happy Face, When someone else's negative attitude brings you down, essentially you are giving agreement to negativity! Why allow someone else's problems affect your mood, especially when the problems don't relate to you? If the other people's attitude is a consistent problem, then it needs to be addressed openly, and with concern, respect and dignity for them. As a start, ask the person if he/she is aware that his/her mood or attitude is having a negative effect on others. Ask what you can do to support him/her in being happy to be at work.

A more subtle way to support a positive outlook is to put an emphasis on gratitude. For instance, start your morning huddle with everyone stating something for which they are grateful. If someone says “my family”, everyone else has to say something other than “family”. The list will be quite long by the end of the week. Another suggestion is to have everyone acknowledge someone else on the team for something they have done that day. Again, no repeats so that everyone is acknowledged.

Dear Garby, I strongly suspect that one of the staff members is taking illegal drugs and there have been times that I think she was high at work. I don’t have any real proof, but her behavior has been erratic and she sometimes seems “spaced out”. I like her and don’t want to cause any problems for her if I’m wrong. What should I do?!?! Concerned in Colorado

Dear Concerned, I appreciate your concerns, both for the practice and the staff person in question. The bigger question is can you afford the risk to the individual’s well-being and to the practice as a whole by staying silent? In most cities and in airports, there are signs in public areas that admonish people “if you see something, say something!” This message is true not just as a tool for thwarting terrorism, but also for preventing tragedies in all of life! How would you feel about staying silent if the person for whom you are concerned overdosed one day, or caused a major problem that resulted in a lawsuit against the practice and negative publicity? It takes courage to step up and do something, and that is exactly what the world needs right now…heroes who stand are willing to take a stand on ethics, morality and well-being. In every community there are agencies that can coach you on how to approach the situation in a supportive and loving way. Like the Nike ad says, just do it. It may not be comfortable, but it will be rewarding.