Like many people my age, I’m sure, I find myself bitching and wallowing in self pity more often than I would like. Here is a painting that reminds me to be grateful.

This is Portrait of Jean-Baptiste Belley by Girodet, painted around the time of the French Revolution. Jean-Baptiste Belley was taken from Africa to Haiti, where he was enslaved. He joined the French army, made enough to buy his freedom, and eventually was made the delegate of Haiti to France. Even though he was a person of political authority, he was beaten and mistreated by white French sailors on his way to France to present the petition that would lead to the emancipation of the slaves from all of France’s colonies.

So yeah, there’s some inspiration for your ass.