Infrared Lights & Yellow Lights of Caution

Is an experience still new if it ends up exactly where you knew it would? 

This week, I tried infrared light therapy. It’s one of those new technologies that is “backed by science.” Being under the lights is supposed to improve collagen production, improve skin conditions, speed recovery after exercise and a million other claims we’ve all seen on social media ads for treatments and devices. 

There was a point, I will admit, when I thought this series might be very much like buying a Groupon to go play laser tag when the kids were young. I’d try new trends, I’d talk about my experience, I guess I imagined an influencer-type review. But I really do not want to be an influencer…mostly because I still expect people to read. 

The infrared light therapy trial I bought included a full body composition scan. And, really, I knew, I just knew from previous beauty and wellness purchases that it was a teaser. They would conduct their scan, the analysis would be tailored to make me feel some kind of panic about aging or my general health condition. I also knew the panic would be followed by a sales pitch meant to comfort me, letting me know that I could deal with this panic by making a larger purchase of a treatment package. I had the yellow caution light flashing from the moment I decided to try this. 

To be completely fair, that is not quite what happened after my infrared light therapy session. There was an actual doctor on site who wants me to have a follow-up posture scan – which will be complimentary – and, he thinks, that will involve identifying the need for some kind of lymphatic drainage treatment to reduce my high levels of water retention. My extended health insurance might cover this. When I was 19, I had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which means my lymphatic system is slow to drain, but it doesn’t cause me discomfort or insecurity. At least, it didn’t cause me any insecurity until I had a body composition scan.

I certainly don’t feel any different since spending 20 minutes under infrared lights on a device similar to a tanning bed (not that I have ever been on a tanning bed because of the cancer risks associated with that). Really, I am not even sure I appreciated lying down after rushing across town after work.

And, I felt guilty for letting another opportunity to feel badly about my body into my life. I did not need to be told how important it is for me to reduce my fat and water percentages. I know how much I weigh. I know that, sometimes, my fingers and feet swell for reasons I don’t quite understand. Overall, without scans or new trendy therapies, I appreciate that my body is healthy and strong and gets me through the day. 

The experience, though, also made me appreciate some other elements of life and being alive. 

Over the past few days, I have seen a few videos on social media telling women how to grow their self-esteem and empower themselves to make better decisions without self-sabotaging. Each of those videos has referenced a fictional character as an example of how to realize the advice. I love film and TV as much as the next person, but perhaps there are living women who might serve as good examples to other women? 

Also, I have noticed that some of the women I admire most in real life, my friends and family who work every day, take of their families and serve their communities while having fulfilling hobbies, also manage to enjoy skin care, fashion, and other girly stuff, without getting trapped in a cycle vulnerability ripe for capitalism to exploit. Perhaps I could become more like them?

Where do these observations leave me as I move forward with this “try new things every week” experiment? 

Well, I do know what I want to do with it. 

1. I want to be open to experiences that will make me smarter. There were already enough pressures to dumb down and now, with AI entering every sphere, the need to understand the cognitive load – even if we’re not carrying all of it – remains great. 

2. I want to enhance my own creativity. Creative problem solving and pursuits have always been my flex. My love of arts and literature has only been beneficial to my life and I want more. 

3. I want to be more flexible in my thinking and in my understanding of the world. Biases are not helpful when there is evidence to explore.

4. I want to find ways to be healthier and fitter that are evidence-based and feel good to do as seen through an environmental, financial and emotional lens. 

5. I want to enhance my happiness and hope for the present and future. We all get enough doom and gloom. 

The pursuit of new experiences is not the pursuit of novelty. I know the difference between catching myself falling into a rut and establishing a routine that ultimately makes life better. One of those routines is how I maintain my friendships. We all have busy lives, so we don’t put too much pressure on each other. One of my group of friends meets for dinner quarterly. We’re flexible about it, so I imagine there have been times when it’s been four months instead of three, but it’s frequent enough to remain meaningful and relevant. If one of us can’t make one meal? They just join back in the next time. And, I suppose, we could talk about going to a new restaurant every time, but that’s not the important part. Spending time together is the important part.

Maybe, finding new ways to create supportive routines that enhance intelligence, creativity and flexibility is going to become part of this challenge.

Do you think it’s a good idea?         

In case you missed it, here is part 2 of the series. Part 1 explains what this challenge is all about. Part 4 has a beat of its own.