The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily 1359: Lotioning My Mother’s Back by Ama Codjoe
Sep 24, 2025
Tenderness takes center stage as the need for connection and soft gestures is explored. The impact of caring touch between a mother and child is poignantly illustrated through a reading of a moving poem. In a world that often feels hard, the importance of nurturing relationships and shared experiences shines through. Listeners are reminded that in tough times, it’s essential to hold onto one another and embrace the soft places we create together.
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Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Small Tender Acts Matter
- Maggie Smith observes that small acts of tenderness carry enormous emotional weight.
- She connects physical touch to decreased stress and increased oxytocin, making tenderness restorative.
Hold Hugs Longer
- Let loved ones decide when an embrace ends and hold them as long as they'll let you.
- Maggie Smith suggests doing this because long hugs raise oxytocin and lower stress hormones.
Tenderness Versus Hardening
- Maggie Smith argues that in hard times, tenderness is what we most need instead of hardening.
- She frames touch and connection as essential for creating 'soft places to land.'