It’s the time of year when we start talking about the current flu vaccine. Have you had your shot yet? There are vaccines for almost everything: pneumonia, measles, chicken pox, hepatitis, mumps, you name it. What we don’t have is a vaccine for the negativity virus.

What is the negativity virus? It’s a nasty little fast-spreading bug and, thanks to social media, it’s infecting all of us. One negative comment by one person and soon people world-wide are griping, grumbling, hollering even. Before you can stop it, this little one-celled creature has grown and mutated into anything and everything that’s been lingering at the back of your mind since you were old enough to remember. There is no vaccine, but there are plenty of natural remedies.

Did you have to cancel your tee time because it’s pouring rain? (I know this one well.) There’s nothing you can do to change the weather so why complain about it? Curl up with that book you’ve heard so much about. Pour yourself a coffee, tea, or glass of wine. Better yet, call your golf buddy(ies) and arrange to meet for lunch or a movie, instead.

Were you bullied in school? (Another personal gripe.) Well, if this just happened yesterday, fight it. But if you’re 60 years old, I suggest you start by going to your next class reunion. I’d be willing to bet those people have changed, too, and now you might even be friends. In the meantime, use your own experience to protect the current generation of victims.

You don’t like your current state or federal representative? (This one is a big pet peeve of mine.) Campaign for the person you do like, and then vote! You can’t complain if you didn’t bother to vote. Forget about the mean or silly memes and tweets. They don’t change anything, and they are the fastest way to spread the virus.

You see a pattern here? If you can do something about it, then go for it. If you can’t, then let it go. We’re all carriers, but we don’t have to spread it to others.

The best way to fight off the negativity virus is to not get involved in the first place. Smile and change the subject, or, if need be, walk away. You’ve heard the old saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Well, here’s a toast to plenty of lemonade in our future.