I was chatting with someone the other day, and for about fifteen minutes she was on this rant about how filthy the streets are at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, how poorly dressed the passers-by are, and generally, how people dont care anymore, and the world is going to the dogs.

I heard enough, but instead of showing anger, I facetiously interjected with a big grin:

Thank you for the negativity!

Her vitriol stopped as if a faucet had been turned off. And from that moment until hours later, the mood lightened and only positives were heard.

I believe most people have no clue that theyre sliding into a sinkhole of negativity, until they wear themselves out, they wear us out and we flee, or someone clues them in to this fact.

One of my favorite aunts married someone that was so negative that literally, he dug his own grave with it, and a premature one at that. She was a gift, always smiling, upbeat, and she also baked a wonderful lemon meringue pie.

Anyway, they found each other and it gives credence to the idea that opposites attract. She and her hubby #2 couldnt have been more different.

I wonder if she had some antibody to his negativity, if it simply slid right off of her, like Teflon.

I can only imagine if she could have turned him around with a little feedback, a smile, and the words: Thanks, Ed, for the negativity!

Not only would she have made our lives easier, she might have prolonged his!