Jane,
I would be interested in knowing how Bertha (you?) would handle or DOES handle the negative people you come in contact with and how does this affect your writing life?

I know it affects mine. I have a tendency to want to "fix" the negative people I come in contact with and we both know, it's not my job....I am only responsible for me.

So, how do you handle it. I know you're bound to encounter this a lot since you teach and speak.