About

Hi, I’m Mario.

I’m a mechanical engineer and technical content marketing writer living in Los Angeles. I research and write about strategies for mental health, emotional resilience, physical training, diabetes ( I’m T1 diabetic), productivity, and books I’ve read.

Strength of the body and mind is one of the most important things for a good life. It’s difficult to thrive with one but not the other. They must work together, and they must both be resilient because they influence our actions, and ultimately our results.

I live my life by this principle and that’s the foundation of this blog.

I don’t have all the answers, but I’m happy to share what I’ve learned.

The Fun Stuff

As much as I love writing, solving problems, and doing nerdy engineering stuff, those aren’t the only things I do.

My wife and I LOVE to travel the world. Ever since we subscribed to Scott’s Cheap Flights, our traveling game has stepped up over the last couple of years.

On our drive down the PCH from San Francisco to Los Angeles, we stayed at this “Air BnB” – an open lot in the woods near Monterrey, CA. An example of the typical shenanigans we get into. September 2018.

Feeding the kangaroos near Melbourne, Australia. May 2019.

The Cliffs of Moher after driving across Ireland from Dublin. It was windy AF! March 2020. The day just before we had to leave the country because of COVID-19.

Hiking is also another love of mine, especially overnight backpacking. There’s not much that makes you feel more alive than using every possible resource available to survive the elements.

We actually didn’t finish the Trans Catalina Trail. I booked this trip on the hottest recorded day in Catalina Island history. Over three days, our mental and physical resilience was put to the test as we hiked about 15-20 miles in 117 degree heat. It was still one of the best trips ever. July 2018.

Ribbon Falls in the Grand Canyon. Not many places have made me stop in awe as this waterfall did. I can see why Native Americans consider this a sacred place. November 2019.

I also love reading.

God, I love books.

I mostly read nonfiction but I’ve been getting more into poetry and fiction, lately. Especially classics like the works of Homer and Hemingway. If you ever visit my home, you can’t not see at least one stack of books. They’re everywhere, and I love it.

I also like doing random projects. If I keep doing only what I know and what I’m comfortable with, how will I grow?

Here’s a barn door that my wife and I built, for example. We had no idea how to make it. Thanks, YouTube and Lowe’s.