Thank you for reading my new column yesterday on 'Delightful food and drink in Japan'!

Today I will be continuing my series on 'Lessons for life'. If you have not read my previous column in this series (titled 'Crabs in the net') please check it out here :

https://cafetalk.com/column/read/?id=82923&preview_key=165cb7f8206a504b210c52573d87148d&lang=en

THE FROG IN THE POT

Todays lesson is based on an old theory which is believed to stem from experiments conducted in the 19th century. It is said that if you put a frog in a pan of boiling water, the frog will immediately jump out, although if you place the same frog in a pan of cold water and slowly increase the temperature, very slowly and gradually, it will not jump out and will eventually boil to death! 

Modern science has actually taught us that this is not actually true, and that the originally experiments conducted to show this were using frogs with a part of their brain removed. But regardless of this - I think the notion of a frog in a pot of boiling water is a very interesting one, and one in which a valuable lesson can be learned.

Many of us have been in a situation where we are perhaps unhappy with an aspect of our lives (such as our job) and are adament that we are going to make a change soon, but yet are resisting taking the action to do anything about it. I have personally experienced this myself when working as a locksmith and leading a life which I was not satisfied with. I repeatedly told myself 'You will get out of this job one day' ,although I was resisting taking action, and this is the very thing required to create the positive change needed to end the cycle of unhappiness. Before I knew it 8 years had gone by, and yet I hadn't taken a single step to end my own unhappiness and suffering....Does this story sound familiar? We are all guilty of being a 'frog in a pot' in our own way, and my theory why is that as humans we are innately afraid of change. 

I heard a very powerful story from a man during one of my ultra running events last year which I personally found very moving.

The man was suffering from testicular cancer and was going to die, and the reason this was going to happen could have potentially been prevented if he had taken action earlier. He described how one day he felt a lump on his body, but simply ignored it, thinking that it was nothing. Weeks later the lump began to grow, and instead of telling anyone, he simply thought 'perhaps it will go away'. After a few months he was beginning to urinate blood from his body and realised the situation was potentially serious. He finally told his wife, who responded by telling him 'GO TO SEE THE DOCTOR NOW!!!!'. She was angry that he had left it so long before telling anyone, although was glad that he had finally spoke up. After seeing the doctor he found out that he had testicular cancer, and he would need to undergo chemotherapy treatment. He had the treatment, but it had not worked as it was left untreated for so long, and he was going to die from the cancer having spread so rapidly. It was his dream to be able to take part in this race one day, and now that his life was escaping him, he had finally given himself the opportunity to do so and had taken action.

This story is an extreme example of what can happen if we let a situation continue without change, although this frequently happens to us all on a smaller scale. Think about the person who is very unhappy with their weight, but yet keeps on eating chips, chocolate, cakes and fizzy drinks. This is not helping their situation, but yet they keep on living this way unhappily until they become obese and have already damaged their health. Another common example is with some older friends of mine in the UK, who have spoke for years of wanting to travel and see the world, yet before they know it time is escaping them and it will now likely never happen, due to family and work committments or due to having a job and a mortgage to pay.

We do not all have to travel. We do not have to want to lose weight. We do not have to enter extreme running races or sporting events in dangerous parts of the world. But what is important is that if we personally are not happy with our own situation, or are repeatedly telling ourselves how we want to do something (change job, visit a new country, start eating a healthier diet, take up a new sport etc) we must take action! 

DO NOT SETTLE FOR A LIFE OF 'CONVENIENCE'

Words mean nothing, action is everything, and without action we are destined to be a stuck in a cycle in which we are unhappy, dissatisfied and devoid of any excitement or adventure, for the sole purpose of 'convenience'. 

Giving up my businesses in London was not easy. Choosing to travel to Japan where I barely speak the language and struggle to communicate was not an easy choice. Deciding to run 100 mile (162km) ultra marathon races instead of choosing 5km or 10km races was not an easy choice. None of these choices were made out of convenience or ease, but for the sole purpose of achieving my dreams.

If you are unhappy with your situation in life, you have the power to change it!

Do not be a frog in a pot of boiling water, for if you stay there for too long, you may find out that it is too late to do anything about it!

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I am a highly experienced professional English teacher, Yoga Instructor, Tai Chi teacher, Nutrition Consultant and Personal Trainer from London, UK. I recently left London to work and travel around Japan on a Working Holiday Visa with my best friend and longtime girlfriend Ashley (who is also a teacher on Cafetalk : https://cafetalk.com/tutors/profile/?id=54542&lang=en ). We love sharing adventures travelling, teaching, exploring and understanding new cultures. We hope to speak with you soon!