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Healthy Horizons

Laurie Lupold

Healthy Horizon's For a Lifetime

It's crossed my mind recently the question as to what makes a legend? First, how do we define it? Well my resources tell me that it's a story of the past, handed down from generation to generation. Often it is based on historical fact but often it is based on fiction, a myth or tale. Perhaps you've learned of legends yourself through your parents or grandparents. I've always dreamed of having the kind of childhood where grandpa sits across the table and tells all the exasperating legends of his time. I never had that opportunity but if I had, it would have surely been something I passed on to my children.

Seeking out legends I thought what better resource could I find than the famous legend of St. Patrick. St. Patrick watched as his home was consumed in flames then shortly thereafter was enslaved. He had to have a strong will to survive. Many times he was chained and his treatment was not well. He was just a child, a teen and at the time had little faith in God or Christianity. As time went on and he was able to release himself from the bondage of his captures, he found renewed faith.

He developed churches and spread Christianity throughout Ireland, giving every ounce of his strength and energy to God. He prayed daily and nightly, even imitated the great Jewish legislator on Sinai and spent 40 days fasting and praying. He spoke of virtues and the Trinity in his writing, "St. Patrick's Breast-Plate".

He was proud and had much to be proud of. He had baptized tens of thousands and within a century, this once pagan land became predominantly Christian. The old saint died in his beloved Ireland March 17th, about 460 A. D. The land that once enslaved him he had set free.

Perhaps you don't see my reason for my choosing of St. Patrick other than the holiday event. Well to be honest I was looking more for the characteristics of what make people legends, not so much the form of a legend in itself. What makes us admire them and at times celebrate them? Well with St. Patrick I would dare to say that some of the reasoning was his determination to survive and his unselfish nature to give his faith and trust to God. I, for one, admired his courage.

Another legend in my eyes celebrated a birthday on the 2nd of March. Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, touched so many people's lives. His writing made your heart light and amused you. It made you enjoy childhood again whether adult or not. His words were like a fresh breeze flowing across a warm spring day. Its scents captivated you.

Recently America lost another legend. Admittedly I didn't know much about the racing side of Dale Earnhardt until I began to research him and to be honest my interest lay more in his humanity then his racing skills. Though he was a fantastic racer he was also a tremendous human being.

He was very determined as a racer, intelligent as a businessman and had the skills to uphold his marketing of the Intimidator image but beyond that he was a loyal friend. People didn't know much about the guy who secretly helped others. He didn't want credit for those things, that wasn't why he did them. He was proud of his accomplishments but not so proud that he became fixed with greed for more.

He was a good family man. A trusting and devoted husband. He taught his children the best in values. He was always there for them but would never offer himself for a handout. He respected himself and as such taught them to do the same.

He was a man driven by desire. To desire to succeed. Desire to win. You could read his thoughts in his eyes. He never had to say a word. He played by his own rules which often left the media angry. His intention wasn't to be typically annoying to anyone. It's just the way Dale Earnhardt was.

Some heroes in our lives are people of risk. Earnhardt was one of those heroes. It was straight driving and straight talk from a man with a mischievous smile. When he was in the driver's seat he had no aspiration but to win. A winner, he'll always remain in our eyes. Though years may pass and others may take the track, no one will be able to forget that man in black, sporting the number 3.