My grandmother Leatha, who will turn 99 next year, once shared a story from her childhood about ‘chasing a rainbow.’ Influenced by family tales of Irish folklore, where Leprechauns are said to hide pots of gold at rainbows’ ends, young Leatha embarked on a quest. She was determined to find this rainbow and claim the treasure, convinced that riches awaited her. However, after a full day’s pursuit, her worried parents found her. Upset and not understanding her quest’s significance, they punished her, making her face a corner wall. In her frustration, Leatha lashed out, peeling the wallpaper off with her kicks. To her, this wasn’t just a child’s fancy; it was a serious venture into the world of chasing rainbows.
Is it folly to chase fanciful tales and impossible dreams? I believe not. My experiences have taught me that true success isn’t always found at the journey’s end but in the unexpected discoveries made along the way. Without embarking on your pursuit, these opportunities might remain forever hidden. Most successes in life are encountered during the journey, not necessarily at its conclusion. And so, we arrive at the concept of chasing rainbows—a practice innately understood by children and perhaps something we, as adults, should embrace as well.
Indeed, there have been those who literally chased rainbows. Sir Isaac Newton, for instance, devoted a significant part of his career to unraveling the mysteries of rainbows. In his groundbreaking experiments with prisms, he showed that white light comprises all spectrum colors. By passing sunlight through a prism, he separated it into a spectrum of colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet—and then used another prism to merge them back into white light. This pioneering work not only founded the field of optics but also illustrated how even the most whimsical curiosity can yield practical, revolutionary insights.
There is nothing inherently wrong in chasing the impossible; in fact, the act of pursuit itself is most vital. Consider the passion, energy, enthusiasm, and dedication required to chase even the most whimsical dream. Are these not admirable qualities? Social norms or, as in Leatha’s case, misunderstanding from others often act as barriers. Yet, isn’t this the narrative of humanity itself? Throughout history, we have consistently pushed boundaries, explored the unexplorable, and achieved what was once deemed unreachable. We reached for the moon and made it a reality. Practical outcomes often emerge as byproducts of our pursuit of dreams. But isn’t the dream itself equally significant? Can we truly label our most ambitious dreams as impossible? Having lived through a century where the impossible has repeatedly transformed into reality, my grandmother’s life is a testament to the power of dreams. Perhaps it’s time we all embraced this mindset: the impossible might be another dream waiting to be pursued.
Though a relatively modern addition to leprechaun lore, the notion of a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow enriches the folktale with profound symbolism. Since a rainbow is an optical illusion with no tangible end, the elusive treasure perpetually remains just out of reach, mirroring the nature of many pursuits in life. This folklore, infused with humor, wit, and undying optimism, has significantly shaped the Irish character. Such a blend of joyous resilience and enduring hope has come to define the Irish spirit, empowering them to confront challenges with a uniquely optimistic outlook. So, could there indeed be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? In the broader sense of pursuing dreams and the unexpected treasures found along the way, perhaps there truly is.
Perhaps my Grandmother Leatha did find her pot of gold that day. In the following years, she met her future husband, with whom she would share a lifetime. She raised four sons and welcomed grandchildren and great-grandchildren into the world. She stood as a beacon of longevity in a family often touched by premature loss, living a century filled with robust health and abundance. Reflecting on her journey, I’ve realized that she found her pot of gold. It wasn’t at the end of a rainbow but in the life she built and the legacy she created. Her story is a testament to the idea that we, too, can find our own pots of gold if we dare to chase our dreams.
I so wanted the conclusion of the story to be that in kicking off the wallpaper, she unveiled some hidden treasure beneath! Lol
Yes, that would be great. That is probably the story that I will tell my great grandkids! Great grandfathers are allowed to embellish, right?