While in law school, I started my illustrious (or not so much) legal career clerking at the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office. I was helping an attorney on a case and the other side did something that really ticked us off. I don’t remember exactly what, but we were smokin’ hot. I was instructed to write a letter. I did. And it was epic. As I recall, it explained in sufficient detail how wrong the opposition was and how the great State of Oklahoma was about to land on his head like a house thrown from an F5 tornado. I showed it to my supervising attorney. With a smile on his face, he explained that, yes, it accurately reflected everything that occurred and what we would do in response. But we should wait 24 hours before sending it to see if it read as well after the waiting period. Of course, it didn’t. We toned down the official version the next day. This was my introduction to the “24 hour rule.” Anytime you write something while you’re angry or emotional—letter, email, brief, text, memo, whatever—wait 24 hours (or even a longer cool down period) to send or file it. It will often look different to you after the waiting period and you will thank yourself for it.