Tea at Trianon: Happiness Habits

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Saturday, January 7, 2023

Happiness Habits

One's Christian faith should be a source of deep joy and peace which the world cannot give or take away. Practical tips on how to translate faith into action are always helpful. From Hack Spirit:

We can cultivate those same feelings without the cash by starting a daily gratitude practice. I can honestly say this is one of the most powerful additions to my self-help tool belt. It gives you instant feel-good feedback. Studies show that a simple gratitude practice helps you feel more positive emotions, and relish good experiences. It also improves your health, helps you deal with adversity, and builds strong relationships. You could say:

It’s not what you have, it’s how well you notice what you do have that really makes you joyful. (Read more.)