Historical Role Models

Historical Role Models

I have been reading about two historical figures who have influenced my life. First, Madame Marie Curie from France is partly famous because she is one of the first women to achieve the nobel prize in science. In fact she won two prizes herself, and her daughter following in her footsteps in science also received one. I am impressed because the radiation discoveries she made has set France as one of the leading nations in radiation procedures in medicine. The brachytherapy I completed on April 3rd after 6 treatments on three separate days was learned by my doctor's group from a year the originating doctor spent in France. I was surprised until I made the connection to Madame Curie.

The other person I want to mention is Benjamin Franklin. When I was a young man, I was impressed with the self improvement regimen he set up for himself as a young man. He identified 13 character traits he wanted to develop. He worked each week on that particular virtue and repeated the cycle of thirteen things like patience, integrity, humility, etc. He also became known for his frugality. He became a well known printer through his hard work and careful attention to money matters. His early writing gathered in Poor Richard's Almanac collected many of his thoughts and advice concerning money. His advice remains timely for each of us.