Have you ever read the fable about the boiled frog? There are many variations, but it goes something like this; a frog jumped into a witch’s cauldron that had just been placed above a fire pit fire. This was no accident as the witch had planned to make some frog soup and placed the cool refreshing water where the frog could easily jump in. Once the frog was in the water, the witch quietly started up the fire without the frog’s knowledge. The water in the cauldron slowly came up in temperature. It was a gradual warming, so the frog barely noticed it and thought that it actually felt pretty good. As the water got warmer and warmer, it lulled the frog to sleep. Unfortunately, before the frog could do anything about it, he was cooked!

So, are you the frog? Here’s the moral of the story. Small changes over a long period of time are barely noticeable. As it relates to our topic of health and wellness, this fits perfectly. It’s often difficult to notice small changes in health over a long period of time. Energy levels may slowly drop. It might become a little more difficulty to concentrate and remember things. Body weight and waist size creep upwards. Worse yet are the things that happen on the inside of your body, such as plaque building up on the walls of blood vessels, and increases in blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Take out a picture of yourself from just 5 or 10 years ago. Do you look a lot different? Did you gain a lot of weight? Have you aged significantly? Think about some of the activities you may have participated in back then. Losing some of that ‘spark’? Don’t feel like doing as much after work or on the weekends? Having trouble sleeping at night? Feeling anxious or depressed?

Everyone I’ve worked with or talked to that have made significant changes all tell me the same thing, “I didn’t realize how bad I felt until I felt good again.” The water was heating up without them knowing it, yet when they finally decided to jump out of the cauldron into the cool air, they realized how hot the water had become.

Make the commitment. Motivate yourself. Educate yourself. Take action. The water’s not getting any cooler. The temperature is rising, and it’s time to either do nothing and be cooked or jump out before it’s too late.

If you’re in the Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County area and are ready to do something about your health, give us a call at 570-366-2613 or check us out on the web at Blue Mountain Family Chiropractic. In addition to traditional chiropractic services, we also offer group and individual lifestyle counseling.

(Dr. Touchinsky is a chiropractor in Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County . In addition to treating people for neck pain and back pain, he focuses on helping people overcome a variety of health issues through healthy lifestyle and nutritional counseling. If you have an issue you’d like help with or would like a second opinion, call the office at 570-366-2613 to set up an appointment.)