40 lessons – part 1

I recently turned 40, so let me share 40 lessons with you. Today, I’ll share the first 20 and in my next post the next 20.

From my mom: if you need to do something hard, just go step by step.
From my mom: you have a no, you can get a yes.
From my mom: life is too short to use cheap perfume. Buy the Aqua di Parma.
From my mom, when I complained about my studies being hard: it’s the same for everyone. Don’t cry and get behind your books.
From my mom: it is important to sit down and eat together. Food is too important to hurry.
From my mom: it matters how you lay your table. Put a nice table cloth, and lay the silverware in the right way. Don’t use a “toile ciree”.
From my mom: if you have good table manners and are polite, you can go everywhere.
From my mom: “you won’t catch flies with vinegar”.
From my mom: children grow when you stimulate them. Give them all the books they like. Let them explore.
From my grandfather: take care of yourself, then you know you are caring for a good one.
From my mom: whatever happens, make sure you eat well.
A good plan is half of the work.
Routinely schedule the maintenance of your car, your equipment, and your house.
It’s unlikely you’ll get taken seriously as a female professor in engineering. If you want to wear heels and make-up, just do it – you might as well feel fabulous while being set aside as irrelevant.
Time spent reading is always spent well.
Time spent with friends is always spent well.
We can do hard things.
“This too shall pass” is true, and a good reminder.
Better take the risk than regret staying in your comfort zone.
Music makes everything better.