Have you ever noticed that people tend to remember criticism better than they do compliments? We also put more weight in criticism. I am more likely going to remember one negative insult for a lot longer than I will remember an instance of flattery. Now, someone may or may not be insulting you when they use criticism, but have you ever notice how quickly we will go into denial? So when the clerk at the corner store tells me that I am bitter (yea, I thought clerks were supposed to be nice too) I had to think about it for a moment.

Bitter
adjective
- resentful or cynical

Really?