Down in the dumps

What with this weather, the children not back in school before next Tuesday, & February (that most drear of months) still looming, I am in sore need of reminding myself of the Reverend Sydney Smiths Cures for low spirits

1 Live as well as you can

2 Go to the shower bath with a low temperature

3 Read amusing books

4 Take a short view of life - no further than dinner or tea

5 Be as busy as you can

6 See as much as you can of friends that respect & like you

7 and those acquaintances who amuse you

8 Make no secret of low spirits but talk of them freely

9 Attend to the effects coffee & tea produce on you

10 Compare your lot with other peoples

11 Dont expect too much of life

12 Avoid poets, dramatic presentations, music, serious novels, melancholy, sentimental people

13 DO GOOD

14 Be as much as you can in the open air

15 Make your room gay

16 Struggle little by little against idleness

17 Dont underestimate yourself

18 Keep good blazing fires

19 Be firm & constant in the exertion of rational religion