Marco Medri
Engineer
I was born in 1990 and have always been driven by a strong curiosity, especially for scientific subjects. As an engineer, my initial focus was strictly technical (think numbers, not feelings), but my interests have since staged a full-scale rebellion and now encompass a rather eclectic mix: finance (because spreadsheets are surprisingly thrilling), nutrition (I’m still trying to achieve peak human performance, or at least figure out if coffee counts as a meal), sports (a fan of pretty much anything with a ball, especially paddle, tennis, and rugby), art (I appreciate it from a safe distance, as my own artistic abilities are… limited), and of course, personal growth (because who doesn’t want to be a slightly less chaotic version of themselves?).
This diverse exploration has involved both deep dives and casual paddles in the shallow end, teaching me that expertise in everything is a myth. I prioritize filtering information effectively and finding those “aha!” moments of connection. This pursuit has led me down some interesting rabbit holes, including logical fallacies, cognitive biases, and critical thinking – basically, learning how to avoid fooling myself (most of the time).
Life has been a good teacher. Rugby, a sport that has profoundly shaped my life, taught me the importance of teamwork and tackling (both on and off the field). I rediscovered my passion for computer science thanks to some inspiring colleagues, and I found the grounding benefits of yoga (which is still a work in progress – I’m more pretzel than yogi). I also rediscovered the simple joy of reading.
From 2018 to 2020, I lived in Toulouse, France. Known as “La Ville Rose” for its beautiful brick architecture, Toulouse is a vibrant city with a rich history and a welcoming atmosphere. I loved my time there and even managed to learn enough French to avoid ordering snails by accident (most of the time).
Living independently has been a crash course in adulting, especially in the realm of personal finance. It’s baffling that this isn’t taught in schools, so I took matters into my own hands. As someone who finds comfort in numbers and graphs, this self-education has been surprisingly enjoyable. And as anyone from Romagna will tell you, I also love cooking (passatelli anyone?).
I’m a firm believer in the power of personal growth and dedicate time to reading about it. I try to put these concepts into practice by focusing on the basics: eating well (with occasional pizza-fueled detours), sleeping well (a constant battle), and exercising regularly (to counteract the aforementioned pizza). I’ve been journaling since 2021 using Obsidian, which has become my digital brain dump and a valuable tool for self-reflection. I’m also open to exploring religion and spirituality – always curious about different perspectives.
When I’m not crunching numbers, attempting yoga poses, or contemplating the meaning of life, I enjoy TV series, movies, and online role-playing games. I also love traveling and being near the sea. I’m passionate about helping others, both personally and technically, and I’m always looking for ways to use my knowledge and network to build something useful.
On this blog, I share my thoughts and explorations on these topics and more. If you’re interested in finance, technology, fitness, personal growth, or just enjoy a good brain dump with a slightly humorous slant, I invite you to read on.