How 'The Greatest' by Sia Makes Me Feel Understood on My Journey With Lupus

A song that made me feel understood about my journey with systemic lupus while being on chemotherapy would be “The Greatest” by Sia. Here are the lyrics that stood out the most to me:

“Uh-oh, running out of breath, but I
Oh, I, I got stamina
Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes
Well, oh, I got stamina
And uh-oh, I see another mountain to climb
But I, I, I got stamina.”

And then other part that I love:

“Don’t give up, I won’t give up
Don’t give up, no no no
I’m free to be the greatest, I’m alive
I’m free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest.”

The day I listened to the song, I found out that I needed to be on another chemotherapy drug because the other drug wasn’t working and it was making me really sick. I felt done with everything. When I feel this way, I’ll put my music on the discover shuffle (it plays songs that you don’t have in your library) and “The Greatest” played. It made me pick myself up and keep going.

Recently, the chemotherapy drug I’m on now was increased. I wasn’t happy about it and the side effects weren’t fun either. But, my mom and her friend were talking. I was resting on the couch. When mom’s friend asked how I was feeling, I told her the usual: “I’m OK, just tired and it’s finals week.” She then asked me when I would graduate and I told her hopefully in a year or two. My mom responded by saying, “How many college student do you know who go to school while being in two types of chemotherapies?” That made me smile a bit because I thought of the song “The Greatest.”

I have stamina and whatever mountain I face, I won’t give up because I have come too far to give up. I’ve been going to college since 2014, and I’ve changed my major twice. I found what I want to do, what I love to do: early childhood education. I’m greatest when I’m alive because I have stamina and I won’t give up.