Rev. Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, the guiding teacher of Still Breathing Meditation Community in East Oakland, California. She writes: "If I were to define the way of tenderness, I would say that it is acknowledgement — acknowledging and honoring all life and all that is in the world, fully, with heart and body. This acknowledgement is wordless and is expressed in a deeply felt nod to everything and everyone — an inner bow to life."

Another part of the path of tenderness is being awake to the multiplicity in oneness. These two healing paths offer this black lesbian author a way to get through the residual anger, hatred, and resentment she has carried around with her. All of us yearn to be treated tenderly. and we are challenged daily to treat others with tenderness.