What the World Needs Now (and Always) is Love

Call it writer’s block or just plain boredom, but for the last month, I spent more time thinking about what to write than writing, which is usually the Universe’s way of telling me to stop trying. It didn’t help that during this time, I also pulled my back out vacuuming. Who does that!? I’m fit, flexible, and strong. I could understand if I were skiing down a mogul hill, mountain biking around a hairpin turn, or even falling off my trampoline…but vacuuming!? And just when I thought I couldn’t feel any older, I ended up on the couch binge-watching a TV series called Younger. After a week and a couple of chiropractic adjustments, I was hopeful to get back to a normal schedule. That was until I started sneezing. And sneezing. And sneezing. A dreaded cold had invaded my body sending me back to the couch so I could feel older again while watching Younger.

One thing I continued doing during my down time was a daily meditation. With my head feeling like it was under water, it was surprisingly easy to slip into that euphoric state, cold medicine and all. Except on one particular day when I couldn’t get my monkey mind to stop reminding me what a slouch I had been. Over and over, my false, critical self kept cracking the whip of shame over my crown chakra. Then all of a sudden, like a flash of light, my bigger SELF—the nonjudgmental, unconditional loving, true self—interrupted my ego’s ranting by pointing out some of the useful things I had done in the last month. I had brought homemade soup to a neighbor, loaned some clothing to a friend in an arm cast, prayed for a friend’s son who was hit by a car, helped my niece through a college dilemma, bought food for a homeless family, gave an author a positive review on Amazon, and donated a car seat cushion to my chiropractor’s patient.

Maybe I wasn't such a slouch after all! I had done all those things, not out of obligation, but out of love and kindness for others. Thank you, big SELF, for pointing that out. Instead of marinating in indolence, I started singing the words, “what the world needs now is love, sweet love…” (from the 1960's song of the same name). And that got me thinking. What if everyone made a conscious effort to do one small thing a day to add love to the world, just because?

Actions that come from the heart without obligation, expectation, or recognition create an environment that supports more loving actions. Just as all the hate and fear projected in the world serves to breed more hate and fear. Maybe I've watched too many movies with happy endings, but I know in the deepest caverns of my soul that love outshines, eclipses, transcends, overcomes, surpasses, upstages (yes, I know these are all synonyms, but I'm trying to make a point here) …hate. Why not add love instead?

I’m very grateful for the time I had being a slouch because it helped me to remember what was truly important in life and why we are here—to serve with love. I know I can and will make a conscious effort to add love to the world every day. And if that’s the only thing I do today, it will be enough.

By Debbie Gisonni

P.S. For more advice, information and tools on how to create more love in your life, check out my BE LOVED NOW! course , sign up for my FREE 5-day Self-Love Challenge, and join my FREE monthly Zoom LOVE-IN.