Chanel DaCosta channelling joy through travel
Published:Friday | December 1, 2023 | 12:12 AMShanel Lemmie/Staff Reporter
In 2017, The Gleaner declared Chanel DaCosta a star on the rise. At the time, the St Andrew native was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and management studies as well as dabbling in acting, modelling, and a host of other creative endeavours. Now, with the coveted degree in her arsenal, and a highly transformative global pandemic in the rear view mirror, Chanel DaCosta has evolved from a rising to a shooting star.
Refocusing on her first love of travel, she decided to carve out a space in her far too busy life to document the exploits she loves so much. Though the 29-year-old had always prioritised travelling for leisure while balancing a career as a field clinical and sales representative at Mitec Medical of Jamaica, the COVID-19 pandemic broth forth a newfound sense of purpose in sharing her journey online.
“COVID reminded me of things that I already practise and try to practise in life,” she began. “Gratefulness, being present, cherishing the moments and people in your life, looking for the silver lining or the learning experience and growth you can gain in unfortunate circumstances, being able to adapt and pivot and just trying to keep an open and positive mind, are some of those things. All we have is now. Worrying too much about the past and the future is pointless. Yes, we have goals, and yes, we should plan, but we need to be open to things not going as planned or a change in direction regardless of how much time and effort we put in. We just don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”
With her platform now 20,000 followers strong, DaCosta has shared her voyages to Trinidad, Toronto, Montreal, British Columbia, Miami, New York, Cuba, and across Jamaica.
“Being able to experience something I love and sharing it with others so that they can indirectly experience it too is uplifting. It’s also great to get paid to do something that I love. I’ve always loved capturing moments and sharing it. I think that stemmed from my mum,” she reminisced.
She continued: “The most fulfilling part is being able to experience and learn about the culture, history, music, food, entertainment, and people from different countries and in turn being able to share that with others. It’s very heartwarming to see that at the end of the day, no matter where we are from, what language we speak, or what society we grew up in, we can all relate and connect with one another because we are all human and have the same basic wants, needs, and aspirations in life.”
Often making appearances are her many fur babies (cats and dogs) Ali, Mysti, Bambi, Sooti, Sami, Penelope, Puffy, Ghost and Mala. When she’s not showcasing her furry companions, she dedicates her time to chronicling her fitness endeavours at the gym and focusing on her mental well-being.
“Mental health is also a big thing, and you need to ensure that you are nourishing your body and your mind,” she told Living.
Having always prioritised her happiness, DaCosta leverages her expert time-management skills to ensure that she rests within her bubble of joy.
“Yes, I am happy. However, I do feel that I have a lot of potential that I need to tap into, and I believe that I could be doing a lot more. Things that make me happy are being in nature, sunsets and sunrises, travelling, spending time with my family, including my fur babies, ‘cause they’re my kids,” she joked before continuing, “and friends, making time for myself, exercising or moving my body, music, dancing, living a balanced life, living a life of purpose, giving back to my community and helping and uplifting others.”