Dame and Signora

Carla Bruni comes from Italian wealth, was a model, and a singer-writer.

She is also a mother and former First Lady of France.

In my recent East Coast travels, I read her lengthy article in the United Airlines' Hemispheres magazine. I was intrigued. And although I didn't take the magazine with me, I blessed the next passenger by underlining some of her profound quotes -

"Being in love makes you warm, makes you high, makes you alive."

"Try to be as natural as you can. You know the legend of Narcissus.. He sees his reflection in some water, and his problem is that he starts to prefer his reflection to himself. You can't give priority to your image. You know, very few public figures are there by accident; most people are there because they chose it."

"I don't worry so much about my career -- unless we got poor, then I'd have to think about it. Success an power are an illusion for young people. At my age, they're the cherry on the cake -- and what good is a cherry if there's no cake?"

Katniss Everdeen's: Guide to Life

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) returns in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, once again fighting for her life. Her strategies for survival don't apply just to the deadly world of The Hunger Games, though. They're also great pointers for that intense competition called Real Life.

Find a Great Stylist: The bold wardrobe choices of Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), the heroine's stylist, made Katniss an instant icon and set her on fire - literally. Standing out from the crowd isn't just about flourish; it can change the balance of power in your favor. Next time you give a career-critical presentation, remember: Dress the part.

Listen to the Lushes: Katniss' mentor, Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), might seem to soused to be of much helpf, but his experience has saved Katniss time after time, even as he slurs his words. So don't discount the wisdom of drunks. They've not only been there, they've definitely done that (and worse).

Live Sustainably: Growing up in poverty taught Katniss the scavenging skills that keep her alive in the arena. She can't afford to waste anything (water, medicine, time), and whatever rat race you're running, neither can you! So be sure to reuse, adapt, and know your berries.

Be Inclusive: Katniss often finds herself drawn to misfits who end up helping her in a pinch. The lesson: Hang out with loners. All that alone time has helped them forge invaluable skills. You might not know Photoshop, but if you make enough friends, one of them will.

Don't Play by the Rules: Katniss has a strategist's mind and a skeptic's heart. She knows how to survive but picks the right moment to flout The Hunger Games' rules. On your next date, observe ettiquette to a point -- then do something unexpected. It always leaves them wanting more.

[John Lopez for Marie Claire magazine]