NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER
The Endearing Power of
Love
by JOHNNY TAN
Happy February , Everyone ! I am glad we have a month once a year dedicated to the theme of LOVE ! The first thing that comes to mind for me is the beautiful , inspiring , and empowering song “ What The World Needs Now Is Love ” by Jackie DeShannon . It is one of the songs I play for my Assisted Living and Memory Care residents at the various Senior Living facilities in the Dallas area during our weekly Body In Rhythm Motion Hour Classes . Everyone loves it so much that we all do a sing-along as we move our bodies rhythmic while enjoying the melody of the music .
I have always liked this beautiful song as it is a lovely waltz music to dance to . Little did I know this timeless 1965 song is precisely what we and the world currently need right now !
Upon researching , I discovered that Hal David wrote the song ; the music was composed by Burt Bacharach and released in the middle of the 1955 to 1975 Vietnam War era . Although there were several eventual versions of this song after the original release , Jackie DeShannon ' s version was selected by the U . S . Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry in 2023 .
Every time I play this song , I am reminded of what my 9 Moms taught me early in life : to always look at people and situations through the Lens of Love .
Beginning with my Malaysian mom , Nyah , and ending with my Cajun mom , Ginger , all 9 Moms stated that the vision I will always see is what cultivates Happiness , Blessings , and Abundance !
Although it took collective pivotal moments and circumstances strung together over the decades to experience what my 9 Moms wanted me to comprehend and gain , it was well worth it .
4 | Inspirations for Better Living • February 2024