The winner stands alone.

I'm reading a book called "The Winner Stands Alone" (Paulo Coelho). I think this book is more my speed than most of his books. "11 minutes" was alright, I still have mixed feelings about "Zahir" and "The Alchemist" got me so confused, I felt slightly dumb after. So when I finally came across this book, it was like finding diamond under those small, dirty stones. I took a deep breath, bought it and well, I am quite glad. Now I am going to plagarise a few pages from it. That's what I do when I have no profound thoughts of my own, I steal from those who do.

....After all he's paid her-and paid her well-for her time.
"How do you intend to do that?"
"Do you know anything about frogs?"
"Frogs?"
"Yes, biological studies have shown that if a frog is placed in a container with water from its own pond, it will remain there, utterly still, while the water is slowly heated up. The frog doesn't react to the gradual increase in temperature, to the changes in the environment, and when the water reaches boiling point, the frog dies, fat and happy.
"On the other hand, if a frog is thrown in a container full of already boiling water, it will jump straight out, scalded and alive!"

Olivia doesn't quite see what this has to do with the destruction of the world. Igor goes on:

"I was like that boiled frog. I didn't notice the changes. I thought everything was fine, that the bad things would go away, that it was just a matter of time. I was ready to die because I lost the most important thing in my life, but, instead of reacting, I sat there bobbing apathetically about in water that was getting hotter by the minute."

Olivia plucks up the courage to ask:
"What did you lose?"

"The truth is I didn't lose anything. Life sometimes separates people so that they can realise how much they mean to each other. For example, last night, I saw my wife with another man. I know she wants to come back, that she still loves me, but she's not brave enough to take the first step. Some boiled frogs still thinks it's obedience that counts, not ability: those who can, lead, and those with sense, obey. So where's the truth in all this? It's better to emerge from a situation slightly scalded, but alive and ready to act. And I think You can help me in that task."

What kind of frog are you? I'd like to think I'm the one that jumps out and acts. Unfortunately most times, I'm the frog that sits there and hopes my problems will go away.