Have you ever encountered a powerful phrase that felt like it was speaking directly to you? That’s what happened to me with a famous quote from Bob Marley, ‘Love the life you live / Live the life you love.’ Yes, it might sound cheesy at first glance, but stick with me for a moment because the story behind my business tagline is anything but superficial. It’s rooted in embracing resilience, transformation and honouring my identity and Caribbean heritage.
My journey to where I am today hasn’t been a straightforward one. It’s been marked by profound moments of struggle in my health and personal life, which ultimately led to empowerment and transformation. It began with battling severe fatigue, a condition that left me searching for answers where there seemed to be none. Despite working with numerous healthcare professionals and working on nutrition and exercise, addressing the root cause of my ailment remained elusive, leading to a significant deterioration in my health and well-being.
Navigating these health challenges and a subsequent divorce led me to a long period of self-reflection and re-evaluation of what was most important in my life. These life-altering experiences were the catalysts for the next conscious major decision: a career pivot. While there is a whole other (ironic) story about why I chose health coaching, know that my decision to leave behind a successful and lucrative career wasn’t made lightly. It was a conscious commitment to live life on my own terms and by my values, guided by these major life lessons. The holistic approach to health (addressing physical symptoms and the mental and emotional aspects) is what ‘Love the life you live / Live the life you love’ represents in the context of my business.
So, why did I decide to use this tagline? While considering a name for my new business, I stumbled upon the quote from Bob Marley, which immediately resonated with me. Bob Marley’s messages of love, unity and the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity resonate with people all over the world. He sang about the struggles and triumphs of the everyday person. He lived his life with purpose and passion and was deeply committed to the causes he believed in. This quote and his life as an inspirational leader who used his platform to raise awareness for the causes he believed in, struck a chord with me but also ignites a connection to my Caribbean roots. My family hails from the Cayman Islands, and I also have some ancestral connections to Jamaica. Cayman was a special place to visit in my childhood. I lived there for 10 years in my adult life and had two of my children there.
So, for me, the quote, “Love the life you live; live the life you love,” holds a strong connection to my identity. After having been given a second chance at health, it is a reminder to me to pursue an authentic lifestyle towards greater health, longevity, and my best self and use my talents and experiences to make a positive impact in other’s lives.
As cheesy as it may initially appear, the tagline is my call for resilience, faith, transformation, and the pursuit of authenticity. It is a call to make intentional choices that create a healthy, values-driven life aligned with our deepest truths and dreams. It’s about learning to embrace the present moment and find meaning and gratitude in our current circumstances, even when they’re far from what we planned or hoped for.
I am not perfect and don’t claim to “have it all figured out.” I will always be striving for the next level. As we journey through life, embracing our stories and the lessons they bring, I invite you to consider what it means to you to ‘Love the life you live / Live the life you love.’ If you’re seeking to reclaim better health, vitality, and fulfillment on your terms, what are your next steps?
I share this story to provide context for a phrase that means so much to me and to invite you into my thought process for the tagline and the values that guide my work. So, as cheesy as the tagline may sound, deep down, who doesn’t want to “love the life you live”?
About the Author
Heather Budd is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, trained by the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy. She specializes in guiding individuals through lifestyle transformations to manage chronic illness and combat fatigue. With a diverse background in business, leadership and a profound personal health journey, Heather empowers clients to reclaim their health and extend their health span.