The Origin Story: “My Story”
How did I come to have 9 Moms? I was adopted at birth in Melaka, Malaysia, by my mom, Nyah. I spent my first eighteen years learning from her. One lesson she taught me was that everyone has a seed of greatness inside them. She believes this seed is the key to success in life. When nurtured carefully, this seed can help the genius within us create our goals, dreams, and desires, empowering the talent inside us to achieve them with a heartfelt passion.
Four months after my 18th birthday, I left Malaysia to attend college at Louisiana State University in the US. I had just finished my freshman year when I received a letter, written on my mom's behalf by my sister, informing me of our father’s sudden passing. The timing of his death caused both emotional trauma and a financial crisis for my mother, my sister, and me. The challenges that followed led me to make decisions that shaped my life, including not returning to Malaysia for 15 years.
During this time, while living on my own in Baton Rouge, I began the journey of meeting my eight other moms, one at a time, over the next eighteen years. I met my first two moms during my college years. My next three moms came into my life after I started working. I met my last three moms during my leisure time in the ballroom dancing community. The timing of these wonderful women entering my life was God-sent. These ladies found ways to shape my soul and guide my heart. They were my teachers, coaches, counselors, and cheerleaders—always available and willing to listen to my ideas and to console me during tough and difficult times. All but one of my 9 Moms have since passed away, but each left me with timeless recipes for living that, collectively, form the foundation of my success.
I remember just before leaving Malaysia for the United States, my mom, Nyah, said to me, “Since you were a child, you have been exposed to all kinds of experiences. Your father and I have done our best to raise you. Now, you are about to embark on a journey where you will continue to encounter and gain new life experiences. Some of them, good or bad, will stay with you for the rest of your life. Always remember, it is how you manage these experiences that will ultimately determine your idea of success or failure in both your personal and professional lives.” I didn’t fully understand my mom’s advice at the time. Since then, having gone through a divorce, leaving a corporate career of eighteen years to start my own business, and surviving a personal financial reorganization, as a result of my falling into the Grand Canyon of Life, I can certainly attest to the profundity of her insights.
Coming to America at a young age was a dream come true for me. I was eager to embrace the new culture. My enthusiasm to fit into my new environment and lifestyle led me to ask my Southern Belle mom, Eleanora Carter, to teach me what I needed to know to blend in with the community. She and her husband, Nick, served as my unofficial host family. Thanks to her, I learned proper etiquette and manners, building on what I already knew from my years growing up in Malaysia. Eleanora taught me, “Although our warm and engaging authentic personality may open doors, it is our authentic integrity character that will keep the doors open.”
Youthful and energetic, I was always impatient when making decisions and completing tasks. Often, I realized that the decisions I made weren’t the best. If only I had thought more carefully before acting on my enthusiastic impulses, the outcomes could have been better. One of my most treasured memories of my Italian foster mom, Carol Wisdom, is her wise, logical approach to situations. Carol always reminded me, “Time is a luxury. Having faith that the right thing will come along at the right time and in the right way is a belief I should make room for in my life.” This advice has helped me to pass on opportunities that initially seemed perfect but eventually unraveled after failing to stand the test of time.
As a dedicated perfectionist, I have been told that I exude an aura of stiffness because of my business-like approach to life. This trait was also noticed by my Sanguine Savannah mom, Toni Winters, when we first met. Always cheerful with a carefree spirit, she taught me how to embrace each day with enthusiasm and lightheartedness. Her happy, confident personality encouraged me to try new experiences. Toni made me laugh and loosen up by sharing this wonderful recipe for living: “Live like there is no tomorrow; however, always plan that you will have another day to live. What the caterpillar sees as the end of the world, the butterfly sees as the beginning of a beautiful life.”
My pragmatic, part-Native American Texan Earthly mom, Dee Jones, taught me to focus on today. Dee reminded me, “What I did yesterday is not as important as what I am going to do today. My actions today will define who I am tomorrow.” This advice inspired me to refine my mission statement. At its core, my mission statement reflects, in many ways, the best qualities of my 9 Moms: a reminder to live with integrity, humility, kindness, and a sense of humor; to seek healthy, loving relationships; and to prepare to be of service to others. This declaration has guided my life choices as a young man and continues to influence my thoughts and actions every day.
I grew up in a spiritual family. My mom, a Taoist practitioner, prayed twice daily for her loved ones. When I was in high school, I enrolled as a novice at a Buddhist temple in Melaka for two years. I was intrigued by their philosophical way of living. In the United States, I enjoyed attending church with my various moms. My spiritual and progressive mom, Elsa Mae Stevens, a Southern Baptist, was always thrilled to have me attend church with her whenever I visited. One Sunday, after church, while eating lunch, the conversation turned to religion. She was surprised to learn I was not a Christian but a Buddhist. Since the time we met, Elsa Mae had seen me as a Christian because of my values and how I lived my life. With a smile on her face, she said, “Regardless of what religion you eventually adopt, happiness is always felt by the heart and is not a thought of the mind. Although you can choose to be happy, ultimately, you still need to feel happy.” On the eve of Easter 2008, I received my confirmation and first communion. Elsa Mae was delighted. Today, in addition to being a spiritual person, I also serve as an Eucharistic Minister.
Being single and having free time to spare, I had the perfect credentials for my friend Vickie, who couldn’t wait to recruit me to join her dance group. Through her, I met my Ballroom Dance Instructor Mom, Betty Tamas. A professional instructor for over thirty years, Betty was a gifted communicator. She was a natural at delivering brief motivational messages to her students.
One evening, I struggled to focus on my dance steps because I was still thinking about the tough day at work. Betty whispered to me, “Dancing with heart and passion creates a lifetime of bliss in a three-and-a-half-minute song.” With a big smile, she continued, “Do you remember how you felt when you were dancing with Carrie last Saturday? You two looked great, and pretty much glowing as you danced around the floor.”
Betty reminded me of how deeply I was engaged when my dance partner Carrie and I performed the Viennese Waltz to the music “I Am King, I Shall Lead” from the 1999 movie Anna and the King at a charity ball in 2001. Since that day, I have always followed her advice about being in the moment whenever I find myself struggling with distractions from multitasking.
Growing up in a small, working-class family was a joyful experience for me. My father was the breadwinner, and my mom kept the Tan family well-fed and loved. Although we didn’t have much, my parents taught my sister and me to be generous with our time and resources whenever opportunities to help others arose. My German mom, Dianne Heise, deepened my understanding of empathy to a new level. I remember the year when she spent much of her time caring for, cooking for, and keeping company with a neighbor who was dying of cancer. This neighbor became a close friend. When I asked Dianne how she managed to endure that experience, she said, “Every once in a while, a situation occurs that requires us to radiate our energy of positive goodwill, compassion, and love for others. Until we try to put ourselves beyond our comfort zone, we will not realize we have what it takes to make a difference in that person’s life and in ours.”
A beekeeper by day and a ballroom dancer by night, my Cajun mom, Ginger White, is the most lighthearted person I know. She believes humor is essential in our daily lives. She uses humor to respond positively to challenging situations. With a big, beautiful smile, she can light up any room and turn any problematic situation into an inspiring one. Ginger taught me, “The natural life can always be funny and humorous. The most ordinary events usually end up being the sweetest memories. When we pay attention during the small moments, we will realize and appreciate the happiness when it happens.” Incorporating a touch of humor into everything I do has added a new dimension to my life.
It was eight long years after I left Malaysia before Nyah and I were reunited. We stayed in touch as often as possible, initially through letters and later by phone. When she finally arrived in Baton Rouge to spend six months with me, no words could describe how we felt seeing each other after all those years. She last saw me as a teenager, and now as a young man. In the months and years that followed, she had the chance to meet my other moms. Nyah was grateful she could express her appreciation to these women — my surrogate mothers, in a sense — who had contributed generously to my life.
The wealth of knowledge and wisdom I gained from my relationships with my 9 Moms helped me experience the “American Dream” in a unique way. I came to the United States to earn a degree in engineering. Instead, I received an education about the power of relationships, the nature of love, and the meaning of life. Thanks to my 9 Moms, I learned that I could achieve real connections, true love, and success by engaging others with authentic integrity, listening with empathy, and speaking with humility.
In 2025, to celebrate and honor the contributions of my 9 Moms and mothers around the world, I wrote a new expanded special edition of From My Mama’s Kitchen ~ “food for the soul, recipes for living.” My 9 MOMS - Conversations about Life, Love, and Laughter — to celebrate Mother’s Day all year long!
Besides adding photos of my 9 Moms to the book, I created a new ninth chapter called My 9 MOMS—Conversations about Life, Love, and Laughter. This chapter features “9 New Timeless Recipes for Living,” which has profoundly influenced my life over the past 15 years. It complements the inspiring and empowering updates of engaging, entertaining, and enlightening insights sprinkled throughout the book.
Please click on the book cover to BUY this expanded special edition of From My Mama’s Kitchen—My 9 MOMS “Conversations about Life, Love, and Laughter.”
I experienced the above “spiritual awakening” while writing the original From My Mama’s Kitchen ~ “food for the soul, recipes for a living,” to honor my 9 Moms. The book was released in 2009 with the endorsement of the National Association of Mothers’ Centers.
It won five awards: Mom’s Choice Awards, Mr. Dad Seal of Recognition, Publisher’s Choice Awards by Family Magazine Group in 2010, and the International Book Awards and National Indie Excellence Book Awards in 2011.
The book also made the Amazon Best Seller List in 2012 in the following categories: Parenting & Family Relationships: Parent and Adult Child, Self-Help: Spiritual and Motivational, and Cooking, Food & Wine: Essay.
In 2009, I launched the From My Mama’s Kitchen® talk radio show on BlogTalkRadio to complement my original book. My goal is to provide listeners with a resource full of motivational, inspirational, and spiritual stories from guests, especially moms who are accomplishing remarkable feats and promoting a positive attitude within our global community.
The show drew over one million listeners. Currently, FMMK Talk Radio Podcasts are hosted on the Speaker.com platform and are available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podtail, Player FM, TuneIn Radio, MixCloud, Listen Notes, and Hub Hopper.
Our Kitchen Table Conversation topics include family matters, relationships, community diversity, personal growth, health and wellness, spirituality, and conscious living.
Guests have included notable international luminaries such as Dr. Ervin Laszlo, who has been twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize; Martin Cooper, the father and inventor of the first handheld cellphone; acclaimed filmmaker and multiple international best-selling author Douglas Vermeeren; and the world-renowned Master Teacher of Feng Shui and the Law of Attraction and international best-selling author, Marie Diamond.
International bestselling author Sandra Biskind and Amy Newmark, the publisher and editor-in-chief of Chicken Soup for the Soul, have also shared their inspiring life journeys and wisdom. Other luminaries included the New York Times bestselling authors Christy Whitman, Bernie Siegel, MD, Gay Hendricks, and the #1 New York Times bestselling author, Carol Kline.
In 2015, I was invited to share my stories with the readers of Chicken Soup for the Soul. I contributed to four of their bestsellers. In the Chicken Soup's Thanks to My Mom book, "Thanks To My Nine Moms" was the lead story in The Other Moms in Our Lives chapter. My second story, “What I Learned from My First Thanksgiving,” was featured as the anchor story in the chapter titled “Simple Pleasures” in the 2016 Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Gratitude collection. My third story, “A Suitcase Full Of Love,” leads off the chapter titled "A Recipe for Life" in the 2018 Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Amazing Mom edition. My fourth story, “And The Good News Is...” was featured in the chapter titled "Always There for Us" in the 2019 Chicken Soup for the Soul: Mom Knows Best collection.
The synergy of the knowledge and wisdom I gained from my 9 Moms, along with my life experiences, led me to an epiphany and self-realization about who I am, why I am here, and what my purpose is. Embracing the evergreen wisdom that “Our past always helps shape our present, and inspires our future” empowered me to share my fresh perspective on life, relationships, love, and success through engaging, entertaining, and enlightening storytelling workshops, retreats, and experiential keynote speeches.
The transformative “Inspirations for Better Living” messages serve as a foundation for my clients and audiences of all ages to discover their unique “six cornerstones of self-mastery.” This new level of conscious living and working enables them to create opportunities to dream larger, achieve greater, and become spectacular as they build a better world for themselves, their families, and loved ones, while leaving a legacy of love for future generations to benefit from and follow.
Thank you for taking the time to read a snapshot of my life’s journey toward discovering and arriving at my highest self. I hope it inspires and facilitates your collaboration with us as we look forward to partnering with you and sharing our proprietary From My Mama’s Kitchen® Genius Zone Educational Platform Community Enrichment Programs to help inspire, empower, and bring happiness and success to you, your organization, your company, and your community. It is Joyful Living 360 at its best!
With Gratitude and Blessings Always,
Johnny
