The Contagiousness of Negative Energy

Have you ever been in a great mood and as soon as someone with a negative attitude came around, your day seemed just a little less bright? I'm positive this negativeness is highly contagious; not only does it spread to you but it zaps away your positive energy and makes you physically unwell. Since passing beyond the age of "knowing better", I've become determined to distance myself from folks with bad attitudes. Of course, working outside of my home forces me to engage with all kinds of folks so this isn't a total withdrawal, it's more of a distancing on a personal level. And you know what? Most times it feels good; other times it's rather sad that there's only a handful, ...heck, maybe one or two folks I enjoy spending time with. Once you reach a certain point in your life or a certain age, you suddenly feel as if you shouldn't have to put up with so much of the nonsense. Am I getting crotchety and impatient in my older age (not that old!) or am I just sick and tired of being sick and tired? I've even considered marketing cards that expresses what some folks feel uncomfortable saying... Example: "I've known you for a long time and have mostly enjoyed knowing you but now I feel our friendship is costing me more than its worth"; or "I love you but it's time for you to get off of my couch and start living life on your on!"....better yet, "You may have fooled someone, but I know you only got that job because of who you know, not what you know". *giggle Maybe you'd be better off sending that last one anonymously! But do you get my drift? Can you think of a sideline for a "not so positive" occassion? Feel free to post your thoughts and I will be adding the sidelines to my list over there---> :) Um, uh, ...on the other side... <----