This is a total cut and paste from the Futility Closet, a site that has two or three short articles that really remove me from my present state, most particularly if it is ennui. I believe it to be very therapeutic in a positive way, although I don't really know if something can be therapeutic in a negative way. I personally would recommend that everyone keep Futility Closet in their mailbox and refer to it when you need a refreshing breath of air. in your brain. The content is sometimes practical, sometimes whimsical. This entry is charming and completely relevant.
“Advice Concerning Low Spirits”
A letter from Sydney Smith to Lady Georgiana Morpeth, Feb. 16, 1820:
Dear Lady Georgiana,– Nobody has suffered more from low spirits than I have done — so I feel for you. 1st. Live as well as you dare. 2nd. Go into the shower-bath with a small quantity of water at a temperature low enough to give you a slight sensation of cold, 75° or 80°. 3rd. Amusing books. 4th. Short views of human life — not further than dinner or tea. 5th. Be as busy as you can. 6th. See as much as you can of those friends who respect and like you. 7th. And of those acquaintances who amuse you. 8th. Make no secret of low spirits to your friends, but talk of them freely — they are always worse for dignified concealment. 9th. Attend to the effects tea and coffee produce upon you. 10th. Compare your lot with that of other people. 11th. Don’t expect too much from human life — a sorry business at the best. 12th. Avoid poetry, dramatic representations (except comedy), music, serious novels, melancholy, sentimental people, and everything likely to excite feeling or emotion, not ending in active benevolence. 13th. Do good, and endeavour to please everybody of every degree. 14th. Be as much as you can in the open air without fatigue. 15th. Make the room where you commonly sit, gay and pleasant. 16th. Struggle by little and little against idleness. 17th. Don’t be too severe upon yourself, or underrate yourself, but do yourself justice. 18th. Keep good blazing fires. 19th. Be firm and constant in the exercise of rational religion. 20th. Believe me, dear Lady Georgiana,
Very truly yours,
Sydney Smith
Seems like sage advice though there's no mention of lifting a glass with one's friends which usually helps with most people. The best that could be mentioned was coffee or tea though in fairness would they have known in 1820 of the boost caffeine can have?
ReplyDeleteI am sure they were aware of it although it probably wasn't scientifically documented which probably made it easier to enjoy. Thanks for dropping by. Thinking of you and yours.
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