A Thai(ish) Journey

Starting this off with a serious confession. No judgment please - needs must at times, and we all make questionable decisions! I was on the treadmill for all of my miles last week while staying in the Shenandoah Valley (mainly because I could only run in the early mornings and didn't relish a pre-dawn run-in with a local bear), and I was bored with my go-to Amazon Prime watches. And so I decided to swallow my pride and just go for it...and give "The White Lotus" a try. I know, I know, not exactly high-brow entertainment, but hey, it helped pass the hours, and I'll give Patrick Schwarzenegger kudos for making a total douchebag borderline relatable. For those of you in the know, I started with season 3, which was set primarily at a wellness spa and resort in Thailand. I've never been to this beautiful Southeast Asian country, but it's on my bucket list.

Where this becomes relevant (if you've made it this far, bless you) is that there were some lessons to be learned from this somewhat trashy, soap opera-esque series. First lesson, of course, that I really need to find the spare $20k to get myself to a wellness resort! Second, a few lessons that I think are well-considered by us all. Regardless of our predilection for trashy soap operas.

1) There is something to be said for simplicity, but within the realm of reason and reality. There is a moment in the show where a main character - a spiritually-confused college student studying Buddhism - realizes, after a trial overnight stay at a Thai monastery, that she isn't ready to leave behind her privileged life, that she doesn't think she actually can live without her creature comforts. It's an interesting moment to watch her confess her internal struggle over the haves vs. have-nots in the world - her, of course, being inarguably in the "have" camp. I'm far from the top 1%, but my kids don't want for anything, and I VERY frequently struggle with how much stuff we have while other people struggle for the basics. Why do we feel the need to buy expensive presents, to have the nicest things, when all we really need to survive (and, one could argue, to be content...though that is a massive can of worms I'm not diving into here) are the basics: tangible items like food and shelter, and intangible but important things like love and a purpose. My point is that, while I'm not suggesting we all give away the lot and join a monastery, and I am not diminishing the paycheck-to-paycheck struggle so many people are engaged in every day, it IS worth taking a step back from the constant hustle for material wealth and assessing what's really important, what is really going to help you find contentment, happiness. As they say, money doesn't buy happiness. It can buy a nice trip to a spa in Thailand, but what you do with that trip, with that time, is what is going to have the lasting impact.

2) I won't be spending thousands of dollars on a spa trip anytime soon, but hey, I'm human - if someone offered to pay for that trip, I wouldn't turn them down. BUT watching "The White Lotus" was also a very good reminder of just how inflated the global wellness industry has become, and how much value we place on things and expensive treatments when what we really need to live a healthy life is far simpler (and less expensive). Consider this: the global wellness industry is estimated to be worth an absolutely staggering $6.3 TRILLION. Think about the last time you saw an ad for the latest facial treatment, or that nutritional

shake guaranteed to help you lose weight, or those supplements purported to improve...everything. I'm guessing you've occasionally considered buying these goods - if you haven't entered your credit card number already! I know I've fallen for the marketing before, I'm not judging. The reality, though, is that the vast majority of these products don't deliver as promised. But then again, part of the allure of these products is being able to say you have them, to recommend them to friends, to be seen as someone who invests in their health. Again, I'm not suggesting we put a moratorium on buying health and wellness-related products. But what I am suggesting is a little consideration before clicking the "complete purchase" button. Is that relaxation candle that costs $59.99 really going to improve your life? And that $100 yoga towel - is it really going to make your downward dog more enjoyable? The drive for true and lasting wellness comes from within - you may need a little help from external sources from time to time, but focus first on the basics and you may find you don't need to remortage your house to stay healthy!

Thank you, Patrick Schwarzenegger.