Living Standards

As we approach the election the main parties are vying with each other to win our affections. All of them claim to support the best interests of the common man. From one side we hear that the National Health Service is under intense pressure and needs massive investment – tens of billions extra! From the other side comes a promise to improve the working conditions of ordinary people by imposing further requirements on employment contracts. Universally comes the cry that in real terms, disposable income is falling and that living standards can only be maintained by voting for their party. This time I’ve decided to buck the trend. First of all I recognise that I’m looking at life through a different lens than most. Every day I can climb, pain free, from my bed is a good day. Every day that I can avoid medication makes it better. Being of service to others and helping to heal our community tops it off. Then learning something more about chiropractic or naturopathy with their focus on Health Protection engages my grey matter and makes me potentially more useful. Enjoying robust good health, for the moment, makes me sad for the many who don’t. Zero hours contracts, hailed by some as the ultimate in flexible working practice, are certainly exploitative. But to me, the worst of all exploitation occurs when organisations profit from depriving people of their health, and governments, of all persuasions, ignore the root causes to focus instead on quick-fix patches that maintain the status quo. In truth we need a complete reassessment of our priorities. Health is Wealth and health is God’s gift. We can squander our health but we cannot buy it. Our best strategy is to protect it carefully in every area of life whether physical, mental or spiritual. We do this when we eat real food, engage in stretching mental activity and seek to build a better world by protecting the one we have. Some years ago I was hospitalised and underwent emergency surgery; the NHS saved my life. Only slowly however, did I start to realise that I’d scored an ‘own goal’. My illness resulted from a sick lifestyle – but one which I thought was better than good. I exercised hard and frequently and followed national guidelines on healthy eating with emphasis on whole grain breads, healthy vegetable oils, low cholesterol spreads and no saturated fats. Only when I was prescribed statin drugs and blood pressure medication, which I’d be on for life, did I stop to examine what was really going on. I’ve come to realise that ‘Living Standards’ has less to do with the pound in your pocket and more to do with the purpose in your life, the thoughts in your head and the food in your belly. Don’t let any political party short change you with promises they can’t keep. Instead, follow Ghandi’s example and ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’. Take personal responsibility for your health and be guided in your decision-making by asking how best we can protect the world’s resources for future generations.