If a lyric could ever become a mantra then “Born To Be Alive” was my Mantra through breast cancer treatment. When I felt like a rusty bag of nails during the physical low points, somehow the chorus of this song “Born To Be Alive” would just lift me out of the trough I was in, and remind me of how important living every moment actually is.
It’s easy to feel very sorry for yourself when you are going through treatment and to forget that there is a power and joy to simply being alive and being here. Hippy as that may sound and it probably is, the simple truths are the ones that touch you the most when you are in crisis.
My catastrophic thinking would escalate when I was exhausted by the process of working towards my wellbeing. I think it was significant that I saw treatment as a positive part of my life even though the side effects were not great. As a teen punk I was not supposed to like this song, so it has been and still is a bit of a guilty pleasure.
I love the words, I love Patrick, I love the video, I treasure the message. Sometimes I would listen to this on headphones and stumble along the sea front, dressed like a bloke and I would feel a really pure sense of joy. I was born to be alive according to Patrick and if he sang WE were “Born To Be Alive” then I was having some that.
So Patrick Hernandez, International man of mystery (there is very little about him online and no website I can find) I salute you! Yes, we were born, born, born, BORN TO BE ALIVE.
Did find this Madonna Interview about Patrick Hernandez
*This blog is written to support #Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2018 and the Breast Cancer Haven who helped me beat beast cancer in 2008 and in 2011 – along with the incredible team on Worthing Hospital’s Breast Cancer Ward, UK. I am SO blessed to be well today.
Donate to the Breast Cancer Haven Here
Eugenie Arrowsmith 