Patrick, prevention, and choosing yourself

If you’ve ever been at RegenClinic when Patrick Dotten walks in, you’ll know it before you see him.

There’s laughter in the hallway. A chuckle at the front desk. A kind of warmth that seems to arrive with him and stay behind after he’s gone.

Patrick has been coming to RegenClinic, on and off, for more than three years. He’s one of those people who radiates joy and calm — not because life has been particularly easy, but because he takes thoughtful care of his mind and body.

He lives independently. He doesn’t have family close by. He lives simply and openly acknowledges that he doesn’t have much in the way of financial means. And yet, he prioritizes his wellbeing with a clarity and consistency that many people with far more resources struggle to achieve.

Patrick jokes that he’s 102 years old. We’ve never actually asked his real age.

Listening to the body early

Patrick’s first experience at RegenClinic was in the full-body red light pod. What surprised him wasn’t pain relief — it was how his whole system felt afterward.

His balance and proprioception improved. He felt lighter on his feet. His mood lifted. He described the experience as a tune-up — as if his body and mind had been gently recalibrated.

Not long after, Patrick came in with severe pain in his right shoulder. Years of tennis — sometimes five days a week, for hours at a time — had taken their toll. After his first focused laser treatment, the pain disappeared.

Still, Patrick completed the full treatment protocol. Not because he was told to, but because he understood something deeply: if you rush healing, it comes back to ask for your attention later.

Caring for the mind as well as the body

Later on, Patrick noticed a different kind of change. His words felt slower to come. He found himself searching too hard for language, lingering too long in thought.

So he came back — this time to support his brain. Using the red light helmet, he focused on cognitive clarity and mental ease. After several sessions, he noticed his thinking felt quicker and more fluid. The effort softened.

Most recently, Patrick experienced a mild concussion. He’s been coming in regularly, again using the red light helmet — this time to support pain management and cognitive steadiness.

He’s clear about one thing: even when something feels “mild,” leaving it unattended is often how it becomes something bigger.

Prevention as self-respect

One of the most striking things about Patrick is how he thinks ahead.

Before traveling, he’ll come in for several red light therapy sessions. Not because he’s injured — but because he knows he’ll be healthier, happier, and more energetic if he takes care of himself first.

Patrick understands something that’s easy to lose sight of in a culture built around hustle and productivity: health is not something you earn after working yourself into the ground. It’s the foundation that makes joy, independence, and resilience possible in the first place.

A quiet lesson for all of us

We see two kinds of people reflected in Patrick’s story.

People who live simply and still make space for their health.
And people who work endlessly, chase success, and never pause long enough to care for themselves.

To both groups, Patrick offers the same quiet lesson: prioritizing your health is not indulgent. It’s an act of self-respect.

The people who do this — who listen early, care consistently, and choose themselves — are often the ones with the greatest quality of life. The most joy. The most love.

And that love starts within.

🌿 A place for prevention, care, and community

At RegenClinic, we see red light therapy and laser acupuncture work powerfully for acute injuries. But we also see something just as meaningful: how these therapies support prevention, reduce stress, ease pain, and restore energy before things spiral.

Patrick’s story reminds us why this matters.

Health isn’t about perfection. It’s about attention. About noticing what your body is asking for — and responding with care.

Choosing yourself, again and again.

Call or text us at 250-208-4218
Email: hello@regenclinic.ca