2. Time is my most valuable resource and the word ‘NO’ my greatest preventative weapon of mass defense. I have become aware of my desire to say ‘YES’, and as a result need to always realize I can easily become my own worst enemy!

3. Patience is so much more than a virtue, it can ultimately be the difference between success & failure! I have learned that although it is important to recognize when to quit, it is even more important for me to ask the question ‘why’ first! If the answer makes sense… Then & only then will I ever quit!

4. Good things happen when I follow my passions!

5. Love is not enough. The action of loving is more important!

The only point I’m going to make is that, it is pretty apparent that the greatest expectations are created in our own minds and are really dominated by the word ‘could & ‘if’’!

My relationship could be better if my wife could just ________ ?

My job would be more satisfying if I could just get my boss to _______?

I could be better if I just __________?

I’m going to try and live the next week making mental notes of how expectations may be having a negative effect in every aspect of my life.

I think Fritz said it best!

“I am not in this world to live up to other people’s expectations, nor do I feel that the world must live up to mine.” Fritz Perl

So what does ‘The Inadvertent Truth’ have to do about a 37 year old guy that is passionate about music, guitars, singing, song writing, etc?  Well it has everything to do with it. How can you or I claim to be truly passionate about something and not share it with the world. Yes, I understand that there may be the odd closet passion that is just for personal fulfillment… I get that! But, for the rest of the world, I think hiding your passion is a disservice to the world.

What if your passion helped just one person?

What if your passion helped thousands of people?

What if your passion was part of your legacy?

Today, I played a rough recording one of the songs that I recently wrote to a work colleague. They had asked what my hobbies, passions are and instead of just saying I like playing guitar & writing songs, I put my passion & creativity on the line, pulled out the iPod and played them the song.

If your curious, it’s entitled Super Woman and you can read the lyrics. Super Woman. Later this year I will be recording this song in studio, along with many others, and will truly begin to share my passion with the world.

What happened next?

It wasn’t intended. Nor was it unexpected.  It just wouldn’t have been exposed unless I decided that moment to share my passion with another person.

My colleague told me I was very talented and wondered why I wasn’t pursuing it as a career.

Good question?

The true response to that question is fear, risk versus reward potential compared to the lucrative businesses I am involved with now, and many other reasons. But if it’s my true passion what does money truly matter? Tell that to my wife, three daughters & the mortgage J

Either way, I will never again hide or be afraid to share my passions with the world. This is the inadvertent truth I discovered today.

Sharing your passions won’t hurt anyone, but they may help you or someone else. It didn’t happen today, but what if one day that song played on a radio and helped a complete stranger get past a painful experience in their life.

What’s your passion?

At the time I started writing this, my father in-law died a mere three hours ago, it wasn’t unexpected and the pain is so fresh it is surreal. One of the main reasons I haven’t blogged in a month is our time has been focused on him. Now that he is gone, and everyone in my life is mentally & physically drained to the point of exhaustion, they have gone to bed early tonight. I can’t! It’s time to pour my guts out the best way I know how!

He was 63, lived a hard life in every way imaginable, and only really got to know the people who loved him most during the last 6 months! That may sound strange, but it is a reality that we will struggle with until they day we are gone and is a novel unto itself. In the end, cancers a bitch, and I will spare you the details, but he was suppose to have more time. It was not to be.

I remember asking him a month back if he could share with me if there was anything, any advice, he could pass on to me. His response was, “Don’t make me cry!” So with nothing to share, my greatest connection to him became a promise. That promise being that I would always take care of his daughter and three grand-daughters! On his deathbed, a mere 2.5 hours before he passed, I said to him, “I promise to take care of your daughter and schnookies.” Then I said goodbye and cried! He didn’t squeeze my hand, he didn’t moan, nor did he blink his eyes! However, I feel deep down to the core that he heard me.

So what do I say? Right or wrong here it goes:

1. What a rip off! 63 is too freaking young, and damn it is more than unfair. I am glad he isn’t suffering anymore.

2. I’m a husband, who like most guys wants to becMr. Fix It, and I can’t do a damn thing to make my wife feel better. This is a pain I have not seen In her face before, and frankly it tears me up inside.

3. After telling our 10,8, & 4 year old daughters their Opa had died, I cried. The only consolation here is that, I think, because we have not shielded them from the truth all along, they took the news in stride. They cried, but quickly went back to playing like kids should. When we asked our 4 year old if she understood what died means, her response was, “It means you can’t ever come home or see your friends again!” Wow is an understatement!

4. I do feel a minor sense of a relief that a major burden affecting the entire family has been lifted.

5. Did I say already cancers a bitch?

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I had to stop writing and started again 5 days later.
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6. He is at peace.

7. Death is a stark reminder to live every day to it’s fullest. It so easy to get lost in the day to day routine.

8. The world keeps turning and life does go on after a loved one dies.

9. Fathers love your daughters!

10. Rest In Peace

One day, hopefully a long time from now, I too will die and hope to have the strength, courage and conviction to pass on with out once complaining. My father in-law left this place as a true gentleman.

Rest in Peace Manfred… Rest in Peace!

Here are just a few RANTs you may have heard before:

There wasn’t enough capital raised for the company to fly. I’m burnt out. I’m too old. I’m too young.  Someone stole my idea. Nobody wants to take a meeting.  If we would have only done one thing different it would have worked. The technology isn’t good enough to launch. Our competition is one step ahead. The widget manufacturer screwed us over. The bank won’t lend to us. Our website isn’t good enough.

Screw the WHAT IFs,  the COULD HAVEs & the SHOULD HAVEs.

Suck it up buttercup and do something. Do anything! If it fails, suck it up again, and go after whatever it is you are chasing even harder.

OK, so maybe the sucking on lemons analogy didn’t quite hit the mark, but watch this video below and the next time you feel you’ve been beat down think of this mouse and power on!!!

Failure is merely a 7 letter word you are going to have to get use to if you want the big wins.

I’ve posted mine online here, but this isn’t about me…its about you!

Have a little listen to John Mayer, who wrote a song for the movie, & while your at it,  grab a piece of paper and start making your own bucket list. Then start living & loving the list

The majority of us don’t know when our number is up. Live for today!

The common theme is that it is always about a specific situation. It is often short lived. I like Derek Siver’s blog post of a few years back best that says, ” Stay In over Your Head!”

Whatever you’re doing in your life right now, if it’s become a routine, it’s time to move on to something new and scary.

Abraham Maslow wrote, “Life is an ongoing process of choosing between safety (out of fear and need for defense) and risk (for the sake of progress and growth): Make the growth choice a dozen times a day.”

Whatever scares you, go do it.

As the Olympics are going on right now, do you think that just possibly a few Medal winners felt at the most stressful point of their events that they just might be in over their head!

Whether its a new job, a new project,  family pressures or extreme time restraints you really only have two options:

1. Fake it until you make it!

2. Stick your tail between your legs and give up!

It’s your decision!

It surprises me how many times I have heard people say, “Oh, I’m covered for that through work, but I never seem to go for a massage. I really should!”

So, I thought I would see if I could dig up some stats on how many people in Canada are covered for extended health benefits such as massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, Naturopathic Doctor, etc.  I was able to find a few, and  although the numbers aren’t exact or all that current, the  fact remains that too many people are paying for coverage they just aren’t taking the TIME to take advantage of.  I will end with a few ideas on how to rectify that.

Here is approximately how many Canadians are covered for supplementary health coverage. I have made the assumption that there has not been a vast change in percentages over the last decade:

Approx 20 Million Canadians are covered for supplementary heath coverage

As an example, ever year only 8% of Canadians utilize the service of a massage therapist.

Percentage(s) of Canadians Using Extended Health Plans

In other words, even with my backwards math, if  63% of Canadians are covered and only 20% are actually consulting  any sort of alternative health provider then by my estimations almost 2 out of every 3 people covered are paying for a massage they will never get, new eyeglasses they are entitled to but will never see, a check up from a Naturopath that never happens, and or many other extended health services that simply get forgotten.

If you are paying for it already, then there is no other excuse for not getting the massages & alternative health services you  deserve, other than sheer laziness or an understandable  lack of finances ( Recognizing that some people just can’t afford to pay the small percentage that insurance companies ask you to cover for such services!)

Here are a few ideas on how to rectify the situation:

1. Go look at your benefits now. Do you even know what you are covered for?

2. Print out 10 copies of any forms necessary to submit receipts and keep them in an easy to remember place along with 10 pre-addressed and stamped envelopes. After every massage, Naturopathic Doctor visit or other alternative provider, immediately submit your receipts for re-reimbursement. I know of some people that carry these envelopes with them to their appointment and mail the receipt and form immediately after.

3. Whether it is massage, chiropractic or any other service that you wish you were committing to on an ongoing basis. Just call them and book a standing appointment once a month, once every quarter or how ever often you can afford the time & your deductible.

Taking the time to plan out how to use ‘YOUR’ alternative health services could ultimately help you & your family  relieve stress, keep you on a track to a healthier you, and ultimately stop wasting hard earned money you are spending every two weeks to pay for the coverage.

That is the point… you are paying for it already. You might as well get your moneys worth.

I’m sure you’ll see plenty of him on TV, but found this gem of a video he did with a friend on YouTube.

You can also follow & support him on twitter via @andrewagarcia & Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/andrewadriangarcia