Rudeness. Negativity. Unprofessional behavior. Bitchiness. Jealousy. Whatever you want to call it—it’s everywhere.

You wave at the neighbor lady down the way and she gives you the evil eye. Again.

You’re driving down the highway, going the speed limit like a good girl, and some dude rides your bumper for half a mile, swerves around you, then gives you the bird as if YOU were the one being a complete nimrod.

You log onto Facebook, MySpace, insert-favorite-method-of-procrastination-here, and you notice that someone has left you a not-so-friendly comment for everyone to see.

One of the mom’s on the school’s PTO never returns a smile but doesn’t hesitate to drop her scrutinizing gaze to your sweatpants and sandals.

The server at the restaurant is flirting with the table of men and ignoring you and your hubby.

You just found out that your frenemy has been gossiping about you again.

Your least favorite relative just called to tell you how unimpressed they are with your life—with their witty, dry humor, of course. He/she’s just joking, don’t you know?

The list goes on and on. At times, it’s enough to make you want to cry/scream/punch a wall/honk your horn/curse/insert-means-of-expressing-hurt-or-anger-here. Dealing with negativity is frustrating and sometimes it can be overwhelming.

Can’t we all just get along? No?

Okay, maybe that’s too much to ask. I’ve learned rude behavior is a fact of life, whether it’s intentional or unintentional, we have to deal with it on a daily basis. It sucks, I know. Trust me. No two people are alike and we’re bound to clash once in a while. But something that I’m always mulling over is when is it appropriate to fight back and when should I take the higher road and let it go? Allow karma to catch up with the jerks or secretly wish for lightning to crash from the sky and reduce them to ashes? Or just shrug your shoulders and accept that certain people are the way they are for a reason.

Who knows? Maybe the woman who won’t return a smile doesn’t have the best life, therefore doesn’t have a reason to smile. Maybe the reason that neighbor lady is mad because your son rode his bike through her yard last summer. Hmm…

We all have our limits, exceptions, reasons, whatever. And I have absolutely no solution or sage advice to help us all get along. Sorry. I’ve always tried my best to take the higher road but there are times when you just can’t let it slide. Sometimes you have to fight back. For your honor and self-respect. One can only be pushed around so much, right?

I’d love to know how you deal with rudeness, bitchiness, gossip, negativity, and that guy who flips you off for driving the speed limit. Are you one to choose your battles wisely? Are you a kind of a pushover? Do you bite back? Do you put people “in their place”? Curse? Bow out gracefully? Do you take the higher road?

Or tell me a situation that made you want to punch a wall…or at least a pillow? I’m all ears.

Viola Estrella

www.violaestrella.com

Angel Vindicated

Nominated for a Cupid and Psyche Award from the Romance Studio for Paranormal Romance!

Now available in paperback and eBook!

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