The Disney Movie That Reminded Me Why Sensitivity Is a Superpower: "Elio"

Custom image by Yeider Chacon

This weekend, while my husband took the big kids to see a PG-13 movie, I found myself cozied up in the movie theater with my 9-year-old Max, watching Disney's new movie Elio. What started as a simple way to escape the thick, summer, North Carolina heat turned into one of those moments that reminded me why I do the work I do with Black mamas.

For those who haven't seen it yet, Elio is about an imaginative, sensitive kid who feels out of place on Earth and gets beamed up to space and has to negotiate peace between warring alien civilizations. Sounds wild, right? But here's what had me taking notes in the dark: this little boy's greatest strength wasn't his book smarts or bravery—it was his emotional intelligence and his ability to connect with others.

The Soft Skills That Save the Universe

Watching Elio succeed by being curious about others, asking genuine questions like "What's YOUR name?" and finding common ground with scary alien warlords, I couldn't help but think about my own boys. In a world that often tells Black boys to toughen up, hide their feelings, and armor up for protection, here was a story celebrating the power of emotional openness.

Max leaned over during the movie and whispered, "He made a friend!" when Elio connected with another young alien by sharing vulnerabilities. That moment? Pure gold. Because isn't that what we're all searching for—people who see our messy parts and love us anyway?

The Safety to Be Seen

One of the most powerful themes in Elio is how family becomes the safe space where you can show up authentically. The movie reminded me that the safety of family should hold our messy parts.

And when we hold each other's messy with love, we are truly seen.

This is the point of life, Mama.

As a highly sensitive person raising Black boys, I know firsthand how exhausting it can be to navigate a world that doesn't always celebrate sensitivity. But watching this movie with Max reminded me that our sensitivity—that ability to feel deeply, connect authentically, and lead with empathy—isn't something to hide. It's our superpower.

Finding Your People

Elio spends the movie putting signals out into the universe to find his people. Sitting in that dark theater, I realized that's exactly what I'm doing through my work. My writing, my coaching—it's all my signal. I'm looking for my people: the Black mamas who feel everything deeply, who are tired of burning out while taking care of everyone else, who want to lean into their empathic strengths instead of seeing them as weaknesses.

The movie's message that "unique can sometimes feel like alone, but you are not alone" hit different when I thought about the highly sensitive Black Mamas I work with. You're not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the world's intensity. You're not alone in needing deeper connections. And you're definitely not alone in wanting to create a legacy of authentic love for your children.

The Lesson for Highly Sensitive Mamas

If you're a Black Mama struggling with burnout, feeling like your sensitivity is too much for this world, I want you to remember Elio's story. His big heart, his curiosity, his ability to feel deeply—these weren't weaknesses to overcome. They were the exact qualities that saved the entire universe.

Your empathy isn't a burden. Your need for authentic connection isn't asking too much. Your sensitivity isn't something to fix. These are the very qualities that will help you build the centered, nourishing life you deserve.

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