NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER

by JOHNNY TAN

Happy May, everyone, and a very happy Mother’ s Day to all mothers everywhere. This month is a wonderful reminder of how lucky I am to have had 9 Moms in my life and of the legacy of love they left for me to share with the world.

Adopted at birth in Melaka, Malaysia, I later received motherly attention from eight nurturing ladies while attending college and working in the United States, whom I called my“ other moms.” Whenever situations arise and I need motherly guidance and support, these women are my goto teachers, coaches, and counselors. Always looking through the Lens of Love, they epitomize the profound truth that“ A Family Experience is Defined by Who Loves Us and Who We Love, rather than by our shared DNA.”

Since 2009, whenever I share my life’ s journey in my keynote and workshop presentations, I liken it to a pot of the famous Louisiana Gumbo— continuously simmering, slowly cooking to perfection, with many ingredients. My delicious pot is always filled with— a dash of this, a smidgen of that, and a pinch of unconditional motherly love from my 9 Moms. Who I am today is the result of the delicate sprinkling of these ladies’ teaching, coaching, and counseling, which never misses a beat in sharing their motherly wisdom to help me navigate the university of life with quiet confidence.

Like a professional chef who always has secret ingredients and spices stashed somewhere, I have been fortunate to have my private collection of moms. Whenever I needed the right serving of advice to flavor my life’ s gumbo, I could always reach into my condiment cupboard of moms and find the right one to help me decode and make sense of life ' s various challenges. Besides being the loudest cheerleaders whenever I was inches from the finish line, my 9 Moms’ genuine caring support was the push when I was at a standstill and a guide when I was rolling. I am forever grateful for their presence in my life.

The month of May also rekindles many wonderful memories of book signings I had at Barnes & Noble, independent bookstores, national and regional book exposition events, and writers’ conferences across the country. Fans were delighted and intrigued to hear a man speak highly of his mom, in this case, 9 Moms. They always asked me why I am so passionate about motherly love. I replied that my 9 Moms and their unconditional love have profoundly impacted my life!

The timing of these wonderful women appearing in my life was God-sent. These ladies found a way to mold my soul and guide my heart, helping me find answers to the questions: Who am I, Why am I here, and What is my purpose? Collectively, their timeless recipes for living and their wisdom helped me arrive at my highest self.

Their legacy of love helped me experience my American dream in a unique way. I came to the United States to earn an engineering degree. Instead, I received an education in the power of relationships, the nature of love, and the meaning of life. Thanks to my 9 Moms, I learned that engaging others with authentic integrity, listening with empathy, and speaking with humility lead to real connections, true love, and joyful living 360.

Amazingly, at the various book signings, I have been fortunate to hear others describe their moms’ motherly love. From these entertaining, powerful, and heartfelt stories, I have learned

4 | Inspirations for Better Living • May 2026