Nana Gaia organizes amazing parades for you everyday — ranks of massive clouds passing overhead, flocks of birds swishing by, and even the tiny marching ants crossing the sidewalk at your feet.

However, many don’t notice these things anymore. One of the dangers of growing up is that your eyes can lose the ability to see the wondrous celebrations that move past each day.

The good news is that this condition is reversible.

It’s simply a matter of remembering to take a moment now and then to enjoy these parades going by. Stand still and let nature flow past in all its color, swirl and joyous noise.

And if you have the chance, invite some kids along to watch the parade too. They have a fresh way of experiencing these events that rubs off on us older folks!

Springtime is Nana’s call to come outside and play.

She knows that after a long winter few of us can resist that primal urge to get out of the house, office or car and just run around in the fresh sunshine and warmth.

Nothing’s so important that it can’t be delayed for a bit of springtime play.

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, the Vernal Equinox today marks the transition from long, dark winter nights to more hopeful days ahead.

The world is full of cycles like this — the seasons of the year, the ebb and flow of weeks, and even the light and dark within a day itself. We humans grow up with cycles. It’s built into us, down to every last cell of our being.

And we can learn to draw strength from them. They give us something to depend on in unstable times. Guaranteed as long as the sun keeps rising in the east each morning.

So tomorrow when the sun creeps back over the horizon make sure to get out, let its rays warm your face, and soak up the hope it has to offer us.