The White Lotus: We’re Looking For Happiness In The Wrong Places

I just finished watching The White Lotus, and then I came across Arianna Huffington’s reflection on the show. One line, in particular, struck a chord:

“What’s supposed to be the best life can offer — exotic vacations, luxury hotels, and lots of money — curdles into misery. To drive home the point, this misery happens as the show’s characters experience the emptiness and superficial pampering of the wellness movement — a parade of massages and digital detoxes that only serve to show how profoundly unwell everyone is.”

They had everything money could buy — yet no one seemed truly happy.

Sadly, that kind of emptiness isn’t just reserved for television. It’s something I see often, even in real life.

The more I’ve grown into my role as the CEO & Founder of Culinary Care, the more I’ve realized how many of us are asking the same big questions: What makes life meaningful? What actually makes us happy?

And the truth is — most of us are looking in the wrong places.

We chase bigger houses, fancier vacations, the next impressive title. We fill our closets and wallets, hoping it will also fill something inside. But lasting happiness doesn’t come from any of that.

I’ve had the privilege of meeting people who are truly happy. And what I’ve noticed is this: life throws them the same curveballs as everyone else, sometimes worse. But they weather the storms with grace because their happiness isn’t rooted in the external. It’s rooted in something deeper.

It’s rooted in from purpose.
It’s rooted in community.
It’s rooted in knowing that your time here matters.

And most importantly — it’s rooted from within you.

When I founded Culinary Care when I was 23, I was simply trying to make sense of the traumatic experience of losing my dad. I didn’t having this deep calling to my purpose. Here’s what I did know…

I’m a little impatient and wanted to do something that was going to make a difference right now.
I love food. Good food makes me happy. I think it will make other people happy too.
I’m not good at staying still. I have to be busy and challenged.

For me, that all culminated in Culinary Care.

All this to say, take The White Lotus as your sign that happiness is not found in material things.

If joining the Culinary Care community aligns with your passions and values, we’d love to have you join us! (caveat: we aren’t perfect, but we’re all on the same journey of figuring out).

My biggest piece of advice is to look within. Get to know yourself first. If you’re constantly looking to other people or things to validate your purpose you’ll never find it.

Yours truly, Courtney