"I hate birthdays," the clerk grumbled. "They just remind me that I’m getting older."

"Well, I’m battling cancer," the gentleman replied with a smile. "I’ve been fighting for my life every day this year, and I wasn’t sure I would ever see another birthday. To me, this birthday is a huge victory. And every birthday from now on will be a reason to celebrate."

It is easy to get caught up in the sometimes petty struggles of every day life. In reality, we can not live as if each day is our last. But we can learn to cherish life, even through the most trying times. As you remember the ten people lost on Sunday and ponder the difficult road ahead for their significant others, honor them all through heartfelt gratitude for the life you have.

"Patients admitted to the hospital with heart problems suffer fewer complications if someone prays for them, according to scientists in the US. The study, carried out at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, found that patients who received alternative therapy following angioplasty were 25% to 30% less likely to suffer complications. And those who received 'intercessory prayer' had the greatest success rate … Patients were chosen randomly to receive coronary stenting with standard care or coronary stenting plus one of four alternative therapies - guided imagery, stress relaxation, healing touch or intercessory prayer. Intercessory prayer was provided by seven prayer groups of varying denominations around the world. Neither the researchers nor the patients were aware of who was being prayed for, but the results showed that, of all the therapies, prayer appeared to have the greatest therapeutic benefits."

Whether you believe in prayer per se or simply in directing positive energy to the grieving, your strength and love will most certainly have an impact.

After the deaths of over 3,000 innocent people on September 11, 2001, the country collectively wondered whether we would ever feel right enjoying things like sports again, which seemed so trivial in the bigger scheme of things. In retrospect, those first few sporting events after 9/11 helped the nation start down the long road to healing. Paul Crane, in a 2002 article for the Cavalier Daily, wrote:

"Football and baseball games across the country brought thousands of people together from sea to shining sea, honoring the victims of that dreadful day. It was sporting events that witnessed thousands of fans belting out ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ and saluting the American flag. It was the baseball World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees that helped bring electricity and excitement back to the ‘city that never sleeps,’ while at the same time honoring the victims. Even for many who didn't care about baseball, last year's magical World Series captured the American imagination when the nation needed it most ... Sports have always had the unique ability to bring together all types of people, pulled from the melting pot that is the American experience - no matter their background, race, age, gender or socioeconomic status. The theory of: ‘As long as you're rooting for who I'm cheering for, we're on the same team.’ "

Our sport has faced death a number of times before and, sadly, is doing so again. I am confident that the NASCAR nation will unite just as the entire nation did after September 11th. When it comes to supporting those affected by this tragedy, we must all be "on the same team".

Let us all work to see that the ten lives lost will not have been lost in vain.

The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN. Although we may not always agree with what is said, we do feel it's our duty to give a voice to those who have something relevant to say about the sport of auto racing.