(Originally posted on PACEs Connection May 25, 2026)

At a certain time each day, all world leaders are introduced to one of their newest constituents.

A young mother or perhaps a grandmother or father hands a sleeping newborn to each leader, who then sits quietly, holding the baby and feeling the weight of this new life in his or her arms. Perhaps there are no words spoken other than the name of the child, and where, in their mutual home nation, the baby is from.

There is only one photographer present. It is a quiet, solemn, awe-filled time — for about 20 minutes — for each of these leaders each day.

At the end of the 20 minutes of each leader holding the baby, studying his or her new face, feeling the warm breath of this new life, watching the tiny chest go up and down as they share space, time, and air — what a time this would be — each leader would carefully place their respective baby back into the waiting arms of his or her eager caregiver.

This could be a global oxytocin reset.

(Oxytocin is called the love hormone. People create it when they feel love. It is in all mammals and strengthens connection and bonding.)

This daily ritual could be global moments of regulation and consistent care — for the infants and the leaders, and ultimately, I believe, the planet, our fragile island home.

It would be care for each leader to have his or her central nervous system reset by stopping in the midst of whatever global crisis to breathe with, rock, or sway, and hold a part of the future for which he or she is responsible —in their hands.

I’ve dreamed of this idea for years. Just haven’t ever put it out here for people to react or respond to.

This Memorial Day, with so much global crisis and angst over wars, fuel, climate change, inequity, famine, disease, and on and on, it seemed like the right time to share this idea in print.

Perhaps it is because my family is expecting a little one.

This is the first grandchild for me. And I am praying for a safe and joyous arrival for his precious mother and father, and him. And am thus reflective and wishing the world were more welcoming.

And I am thinking of whether or not, if I were young again and of childbearing age, whether I would trust today’s global leaders to hold my newborn for 20 minutes? Much less hold their fate for a lifetime.

Perhaps if all leaders agreed to do this, and I were randomly chosen to share my child for 20 minutes on Day 321 of the “Global Reset Movement”, I could do it.

And I do believe posting photos of world leaders each day, faithfully honoring this global commitment, could someday replace the photos of war, of flag-draped coffins being met at airports, of another row of graves.

Imagine!