Hey everyone, it’s my turn to write this week’s post. I’m Mario, and I would like to tell all of you a little about myself. I am from a little city 15 minutes east of Downtown Los Angeles. I grew up like most kids did in this neighborhood. Always outside and playing sports. I usually didn’t come home until it was dark and dinner time.
During college, I was like most students and wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. Sometimes, I still don’t know what exactly I want to do. However, I still had to work and go to school at the same time to make ends meet. I got a contracting job at a Utility company in the Cybersecurity department. I was a Business Analyst learning on the go, but it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Eventually, I became a full-time employee and worked my way to becoming a Cybersecurity Senior Specialist. I am even running my own program now. I met some of the smartest people I know, and I have learned something unique from each of them.
Over the years, I learned that I wanted to be a leader and inspire people. I want to inspire people to be the best person they can be, but more importantly, having fun while doing it. As time goes on, I hope all of you will get to know me more. I want this blog to be as interactive as possible. We read every comment and try to respond to every single one. We are willing to take into considerations to review or try something and share our experience. Our goal is living and sharing with readers our perspective as modern minimalists.
This post is about outdoor hobbies. It’s very important to go outside when you can, even though we are in a pandemic. Even a little walk can do wonders for you, both physically and mentally. It has been a rough year for many of us. People who are quarantining in their homes are going stir crazy. I always recommend practicing safety when you’re outside. I recently started to play golf because of my friends and coworkers. It’s a great way to get outside, and honestly, it’s something I really want to get good at so I can beat all of my friends.
I am a competitive person, and I look upon this as a challenge. I never was that interested in golf, but I have learned to appreciate it more now. What I found really cool about this sport is being able to drink while being on the course with your buddies (at a safe distance, of course). For a few hours, it feels like the times before the lockdown. Golfing is an enjoyable solo activity as well. Go to the range and practice different swings to take your mind off the everyday routine of staying at home.
Golf is not the only activity you can do outside. We try to go on hikes, ride bikes, walk around a park, etc. Outdoor activities are essential to our wellness in life. If you live in a region where it snows and rains a lot, these outdoor activities may be difficult to do. There are alternatives, like small workouts at home. I’ve been moving the living room coffee table to make room to exercise.
An indoor leisure activity I’ve been enjoying lately is reading. Currently, my best friend and I are reading Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin. The book is about Navy Seals who share what they learned from their experiences to help people become better leaders in the civilian world. It’s a great book, and I highly recommend it.
I have been enjoying playing chess recently as well. I have to admit, I only got into it after watching The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix. This game really flexes the mind and gets all the pistons firing in the brain. These activities might not seem much, but every little thing counts for wellness.
It’s really important to keep yourself occupied, especially during this pandemic time. Never have I appreciated the great outdoors more. Getting outdoors is a great way to relive stress when followed with social distancing and other safe practices.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Hello Mario! It’s nice to know a little about you. It’s definitely nice to be outdoors, I enjoy hiking and taking walks, the fresh air calms me down. Reading about you enjoying golf reminds me of my boyfriend and best friend’s husband, they love it 🤣
Thanks for this lovely post ☺️
Shuana
http://www.howivebeen.com
Hi Mario! It’s nice to meet you! I absolutely agree with getting outside when we can to get some fresh air and exercise (safely). You have the perfect climate for this!
I loved the storytelling aspect of this blog post. I can’t go out much where I live, due to the restrictions, but I do try to go out for a walk each day, just to get out of the flat. I love the idea of playing golf, and my partner has wanted to go together for a while now. Thank you for sharing! 😊
I love getting to know more about you, the second writer behind this beautiful blog!
I have never played golf before, but I love that it can be played solo. Games that allow you to take your time are perfect for me since I like to have time to be focused, happy, and thoughtful. Being outdoors at the same time in the sun and wind sets the atmosphere for a perfect experience.
Queen’s Gambit touched a lot of lives! My father taught me to play chess years ago but the spark was only reignited recently. 🙂
Totally agree with this post. I absolutely love being outdoors. I’m definitely at my happiest coaching football or while out for a run.
Getting outside is so good for your mental health. I like a good challenge too, it looks like you had a good time. I enjoy kicking a ball around and tennis, but I haven’t done those in years unfortunately. Thank you for sharing.
I love being outdoors; I am such a fan of hiking and walking in the park. This is a great post, thank you for sharing!
It’s awesome that you’ve caught up with your hobbies and try to entertain yourself with your family during a pandemic. Outdoor activities are fun!
http://www.lifebeginsattwenty.com
Ah yes this is so true, my outdoor hobbies is mainly going for walks and in the summer months the beach. And drinks and golf that sounds fun and I so want to see TQG I cancelled my Netflix account months ago as there was nothing on it I wanted to watch but I may start a new one soon.
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
It really is important to engage in outdoor activities at least a few days out of the week. I feel like it’s one of those things that people loathe to do but immediately feel better about once they’ve actually done it. I try to go on walks and bike rides as much as possible (especially during the spring/summer as I live in the Midwest) and the feeling after doing so is amazing. During winter/snowy weather I like to read and journal. I tried to teach myself chess once but I gave up too quickly bahaha. Thank you for sharing!
We are BIG on hiking in our family. Luckily, we live in an area in Ontario, Canada where there are plenty of different trails nearby to explore with our pups. It’s a great way to get out, enjoy the fresh air, be active and also bond together as a ‘pack’. During warmer weather, we also love camping (tent camping), however, my husband isn’t too interested in the idea of winter camping yet. We’re working on introducing him to it… lol
Great post. Getting outside is a great way to recenter yourself. Even a simple walk around the block can be really effective to lift your mood. I agree it is harder to get out when the weather isn’t optimal, but it is worth it.
Never really thought about but golf seems like a great way to get outside during the pandemic. Everyone has space to be at a safe distance social outing. Which is important too, I think. Because of the pandemic, it’s a lot harder to get your healthy weekly dose.
Hope you’re both having fun & staying safe
Karen
wildrosehealer.com
Loved reading about all the activities on here! I totally agree that outdoor activities can do so much for our well-being; just the mere change of scenery by taking a walk feels life-changing already. This year, I got back into walking around my neighborhood and playing badminton with friends, and I’m thankful for such opportunities especially when the sun is out. Thank you for sharing with us!
Anna Jo // http://helloannajo.blogspot.com
Welcome to the blogging world Mario, it’s great to know a few things about you! It’s great to get outside and so something, isn’t it? The weather here in the UK isn’t the best, so that can make getting out a bit more dismal, but when we have good weather it’s great to get out for a walk, or even do some crafting in the garden!
Thanks for sharing!
Aimsy xoxo
Hi Mario!! I love that you and Nancy have started this joint blog – so cute! Staying active is so important and you’re right, even just a walk can do wonders. You guys are lucky to have the weather on your side, it’s so windy and raining here in the UK today :'(
Have a lovely rest of your weekend!
You both should do a couples Q&A – or the boyfriend tag that’s on youtube!
Hayley || hayleyxmartin
Hi Hayley, I think that is a great idea and that is something we will do in the future.
Being outside really helps me to feel better! Something about a good old walk just helps!
Katie | katieemmabeauty.com
Oh I feel you. I also love outdoor activities.
Just a simple little walk makes me so happy.
xx
Margot
https://troughthepasturesofthesky.com
An afternoon down at the golf course or driving range can be a great way to enjoy a sunny day! Hiking is also a real favourite of mine.
Glad to see someone else has picked chess back up again after watching Queen’s Gambit – such a great show!
Hi Mario, lovely to e-meet you and learn a little about you. You’re spot on with getting outside in the fresh air – Nancy will probably tell you I’m very lucky to have a large garden so that’s where I spend a lot of my free time. And I’ve never appreciated my outside space more than during COVID. Stay safe and keep swinging (golf I mean!) 🙂
My husband and I can’t really get out too much at the moment but when we can again it will be really great to try some more activities! Golfing looks fun!
I am glad that you are enjoying life during a pandemic. It’s good to know that you got your dream job as a cybersecurity specialist. Just like yours, the aim of our blog is the same to engage with those who visit our site or interact with us on social media. Good luck Mario, and Nancy. Nice Photos:)
I absolutely agree that outdoor activities are so important! I’ve always been a lover of the outdoors. Hiking, backpacking, paddling, and rappelling or rock climber are my favorites!
These are all great ideas! I have tried to spend as much time outside as possible, grooming my garden to be a nicer place to be in. I enjoy reading while getting some rays of sunshine, and of course working out along my dog. The weather is making it more complicated each day, but I hope we can still do it for one more week.
Lindifique
Definitely important to get some outside time if we can manage it even during these lockdowns. We always just have to be careful and keep ourselves safe! Glad to meet you, Mario!
Hi Mario! Re-discovering the outdoors has been an absolute blessing this year. In addition to getting the body going and the mind stimulated, I’ve found it to be such a healthy relationship activity. For us, it’s been a lot of cycling, and it’s been a shared source of light and joy!
It’s so important to stay busy now. It’s great to get know more about Mario and you two seem to work well together.
Enjoy the LA sun! It’ll be a while before we’re outside in DC. But, we do enjoy snow.
Hi Mario! Outdoor activities are so important, especially this year, as they really help your mental health. I’ve probably done more walks outside this year than I’ve done in the 2 years before. I’ve never played golf, but I think it looks like a great way to unwind.
Eve | http://www.evemorganinteriors.com
Hi Eve, it is a great way to unwind. Sometimes I just go to the range and listen to music or a podcast for an hour.
I totally agree. Even a walk is good for our health. I will try some of these ideas as well. Thank you for sharing it!
Some great suggestions here for outdoor activities. Gorgeous images, thank you for sharing 🙂
I’ve never played golf, but more and more of my friends are doing it, so it must be an addicting game.
At first, Golf can be intimidating and frustrating if you let it. The key thing for beginners is to focus on one thing at a time. Focus on hitting the ball. Don’t bother if you can hit it straight or not, just hitting the ball consistently is an accomplishment. Eventually you will hit shots that will make you want to go back to the game and improve. Lastly, playing with friends makes it all worth while. I like improving in the game but enjoying time with friends and sharing jokes with each other is the real reason I enjoy this game. I hope you give it a chance.
Finding outdoor activities have been a lifesaver for these pandemic times. 🙂
Mario, I really enjoyed your tips for staying flexible and being creative in order to stay active! Now that it is cooler in the desert, I have really enjoyed going for longer walks and hikes. Nothing beats the feeling of getting a good dose of fresh air every day!
Due to the pandemic, I really understood that being able to go outside whenever you like is a gift! Since the start in March I like to go for long walks even more.
Kind regards,
Leonie from http://eyeofthelion.de
It’s fun you’ve found a hobby with golf! We have been enjoying exploring local trails around the neighbour hood rather than just heading to the playground as we usually would, it’s been nice to switch it up a bit and I’m hoping we get to do it more this summer if the extreme weather stays away, haha!
Hope that you are having a great week! It’s a wet and stormy one here, summer rains have arrived! Definitely no outdoor activities this week!
Great post! Thank you for sharing this! I usually go on walks most days to get some fresh air and it makes me feel a lot better.
I always promote some sort of outdoor activity with my little one especially, even if it’s a quick 20 minute walk. It’s so important for your mental health, especially during this pandemic!!
Thanks for sharing! Also jealous that you grew up in such a nice climate 😆 it’s freezing in Canada right now 🤗
I’ve been trying to make sure I keep myself active throughout the pandemic, it’s definitely been tough but it is so important to get out and get some fresh air. I also enjoy going out for walks, helps me when I’m feeling a bit stressed from work as well. It was nice to get to know more about your Mario! Great post x
I have also been interested in Chess since watching the show! XD Nice to meet you.
Okay but how great a date idea is golf!! I have been wondering what outdoor activities I can do in Wales with my partner, and golf would be such a great date!
It’s so true — getting outside and finding new activities is vital right now for health and wellbeing. I’ve tried to get into golf so many times (even worked in the golf industry for awhile), but I never felt like I had time. But there’s no excuse now!
Loved hearing more about you, Mario, and look forward to following your posts going forward!
It was really fun to read this, I’m mostly doing mountaineering when speaking about
outdoors..
Hi Mario! Getting outside during this pandemic year is so important! I have never been golfing before other than mini golf lol. My boyfriend and I love going for daily walks around our local park makes us feel a lot better after working on online class all day. After watching Queen’s Gambit, I really want to learn how to play chess. That was such a great show! I hope you and Nancy are having a great week so far!
Jill
https://jilliancecilia.com/
This looks like such a fun activity! The pandemic has really made me appreciate the outdoors!
Tash – A Girl with a View
It’s nice to know more about you! I really admire your healthy and active lifestyle!
Yes for sure spending time outdoor is important during pandemic.
Walking, hiking, playing sports outdoor. Golfing sounds fun! But I am more of a volleyball addict!
Thanks for sharing!
Happy Holidays!
“I want to inspire people to be the best person they can be, but more importantly, having fun while doing it. ”
Hi Mario! Welcome to the blogosphere. It’s so nice to get to know you better through this post. My hubby also helps me a lot in creating content for our blog. We both love photography, so we usually visit different places and take various photos. We haven’t been doing that lately because of the pandemic. But, we still try to go outside and walk in the nearby park. Outdoor activities do help take our mind off everyday routine. Love these photos of you and Nancy. Stay safe. Keep inspiring us. And, Happy Holidays to both of you!!!
This is such good advice! I am a big-time homebody, but even I have felt a little confined during this everlasting pandemic!! It does help to open the blinds and look outside the windows, but a walk every now and then wouldn’t go amiss.
We’ve been spending so much time outdoors with the pandemic, hiking and taking beach walks. It’s what has kept us sane =o)
https://honeycombee.com/
Hi Mario! I’m Shanae, a long time follower of Nancy. It’s wonderful to see you both collaborating on a blogging adventure. Thanks for giving a bit of insight as to who you are. Sounds like you’ve had quite a journey. You’re 100% correct in assessing the importance of staying active and doing what you can, even in the societal changes we’ve all experienced cohesively throughout 2020. While I live in west-central Texas in a smaller city there’s still a lot one can and cannot do in regard to being out and about. I’m incredibly lucky we have a state park just minutes away, but as COVID caused my finances to take a bad hit I cannot always afford to take my daughter and I there. We’ve started taking camping trips to the lake on weekends when the weather permits as it is free to use during this time of year, and she has learned to fish. It’s helped her a lot, and the outside time is amazing for my mental health as well!
Physically I have taken to trying to find little workouts to do at home during my hectic schedule, and so far have found a few things I enjoy as well! Investing in a platform from 5 Below was awesome, as well as a few smaller hand weights. As I was oce told, every step toward better health is a proper step. It’s hard to keep your head up when you have very little ability to gather with others for saftey sake, however incredibly important to maintain a postitive attitude nontheless.
Bless ya’ll, and stay safe during the holidays! May Nancy and yourself have a beauiful and loving holiday!
~Shanae
Really enjoyed reading this! I’ve been loving walking around my local area during lockdown, as well as practicing skipping too. It’s incredible how much a bit of fresh air can really impact how we feel, especially in the current circumstances 🙂
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
This is awesome, thanks for sharing!
http://freshisyummy.blogspot.com/
NAAAANCY!!! I didn’t know you gave golf a shot – we should totally hit the driving range together once this pandemic is over! I’m glad Mario managed to convince you to do some outdoor activity 😛 Oooh, I’ve heard great things about the Queen’s Gambit and I’ll definitely get around to watching it soon!
Nice to get to know you Mario. I agreed outdoor activities are very important especially during the pandemic. Golf is not my sport but I love Volleyball and will still play in the Cold/snow as long as the weather allows for that. Can’t wait for warmer weather to come.
You are absolutely right that everyone needs an outdoor hobby, more so now than ever. I try to get out every day, usually at a minimum taking my dog for an hour-long walk. During the summer months, I garden, go for extra walks, occasionally go camping, and hike. I’ve never done a full golf course unless putt putt golf counts, but I have gone to the driving range a number of times and it’s pretty fun even if I do suck at it. It’s all about fresh air, sunshine, and exercise, right? Reading is my favorite activity of all.