Preserving Life

 Most of us go about our daily lives to preserve them. We are fortunate enough in the UK to have free access to medical and dental care. We undertake routine smear tests, and breast and prostate examinations and currently we have been rolling out Vaccinations for Covid and Flu as part of the routine procedures to help prolong our life.
In addition to all of this, many of us choose to look after our health through, exercise, eating well, not smoking or drinking to excess etc.
Those who are lucky enough to be in a position to be financially able, may also choose to go to the gym, join mediation classes, breathwork, or yoga etc. We could also choose to see a Nutritionist, Acupuncture, a Herbalist, the list goes on.
There is a whole array of techniques and practices we can utilise to help keep us in tip top condition. If only the NHS could be better funded to allow for everyone to access more holistic practices that focus on the idea of homeostasis, (viewing the body as a whole living system rather than just symptom's alone) Perhaps we would find our society in a better place, not only physically but mentally and emotionally too.
Because lets not forget, fear and stress are the biggest factors in lowering the immune system. 

Medical intervention is not right for everyone. And for those who are informed and feel confident enough to give consent, it is not uncommon to use both holistic and conventional practices at the same time, the two are not mutually exclusive, though of course, some may opt for just one or the other, or even nothing at all. It is their choice.

There are many reasons why people do not get vaccinated. One of them could be that the fear of becoming sick or dying from getting vaccinated far outweighs the fear of becoming ill from a virus itself. 
Just because our fears may differ, it does not make them less real, valid or true. We are all trying to do our best in extra-ordinary circumstances.
Some people may be extremely sensitive to drugs. For those people, they may make an educated and balanced decision to decline the vaccination until more conclusive evidence is made available. And then when doing so, perhaps many will be enquiring as to the integrity of such findings.
Others may have witnessed members of their family undergo traumatic adverse reactions to a vaccine or have even experienced it themselves. And when i say this, I dont mean a just sore arm and flu like symptoms for a day or two. I mean the kind that land you in a situation where you or a loved one are calling the emergency services, praying that its not too late.
Similarly, one may have developed life changing side affects and do not wish to take any such risk again. As someone who has been injured through a low risk procedure, these are very real concerns for many.
Some may choose to look at the data and decide that taking a gamble on a medical procedure that has no guarantee of preventing one from spreading it or catching it, is too much of a high stake, when no medical intervention can ever be without a risk.
Life is full of risks Dying is inevitable. Perhaps we should be looking at what constitutes a good death as well as a good life and maybe, just maybe we can begin to hold conversations around how we can begin to empathise and accept another persons medical decisions.
All I know is that there is far too much anger and resentment towards one another. The current climate means that any conversation of an alternative narrative quickly gets shut down.
There is fear on all sides. All are justified and no less or no more equal than another.
I see members of my own community quite willing to segregate one another on the basis of a vaccine status. I am saddened to see our society breaking down through personal choices. Of course, we must accept the consequences, but to be living under the threat of being barred from a large proportion of everyday life including shopping. How can this be a reasonable action in the twenty first century when the vaccinated are no less dangerous than the unvaccinated? 
We should preserve life of course, but at what cost? It is worth noting that it has already been reported that there has been a surge of non Covid related deaths. We seem to have forgotten our rationale and humanity.
How far are we willing to go? Because the way we are heading, life isn't going to be worth fighting for if we are no longer able to accept one another's differences.