Greetings everyone! Meet Cha!

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

Cha Jones is a dynamic coach, consultant, and spiritual healer dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to live with intention and authenticity. She holds a BS in Business Management from Aquinas College in Nashville, TN, and a Master’s in Intercultural Communication and International Education from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT.

With over 15 years of experience in the personal development and diversity, equity, and inclusion sectors, Cha has lived in three countries and traveled to more than 28, allowing her to bring a rich, global perspective to her work. As a certified life coach, she specializes in guiding clients through transformative journeys, helping them shed societal expectations, prioritize self-care, and design fulfilling lives aligned with their deepest values.

In addition to her coaching practice, Cha is the author of eight books, where she shares insights on personal growth, cultural adaptation, and soft living. Her approach integrates practical strategies with spiritual healing modalities, ensuring a holistic experience for her clients. Whether facilitating workshops or offering one-on-one coaching, Cha’s mission is to inspire others to embrace their true selves and manifest their dreams.

How has travel impacted your life and how has it changed you and your family life?

I’ve been traveling my entire life, so it’s hard to pinpoint a single moment where it impacted me—it’s just always been a part of who I am. I’ve visited 45 of the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and 30 countries. My first experience living abroad was in South Korea back in 2009, where I stayed for three and a half years. Traveling has always been a dream and a priority for me.

But things shifted when I had my son. The real impact on my family came when I decided to leave my relationship. I knew I didn’t want to be unhappy, and I had no desire to settle back in America. That decision inevitably affected the relationship between my son and his father. On one hand, I wanted the traditional two-parent household, but on the other, I had to trust my intuition. I chose a healthy, authentic life, overstaying in an unhappy situation, just to keep us under the same roof. I believe that decision, while tough, modeled the importance of living truthfully and prioritizing well-being—for myself and my son.

What has been your most favorite travel experience and why?

My favorite travel experience has been the journey of searching for a new home. In 2022, we left our home in Mexico, setting out to find a place that spoke to my soul—a place where I could find community, culture, and consistency. I thought it would be easy, but it turned out to be anything but easy. I craved a sense of home, and I quickly realized that living out of a suitcase wasn’t for me.

What made this my favorite experience, though, was everything it taught me about myself. It forced me to get clear on what I truly wanted—and what I absolutely didn’t. Because I was searching for something deeper, I was able to experience each place on a more intimate level, which was exciting in its own way. But I won’t lie—it was frustrating not finding that thing my soul was looking for.

Eventually, I stopped searching so hard, and the next place found me. But that time I spent looking gave me fresh insights and perspectives I wouldn’t have gained otherwise. It wasn’t just about finding a new home—it was about finding a new version of me.

Do you have any tips or advice for people who want to travel more?

I start everything with one simple question: Why? Why do you want to travel more? Are you traveling just to snap photos and check off tourist spots? Are you seeking deeper understanding? Or maybe you’re trying to find something that’s missing in your life? It all comes down to why you’re traveling in the first place.

I believe travel is essential—it’s one of the most powerful tools for personal transformation. We’ve been conditioned to see vacations as an escape, a way to hit pause on life for a few days. But real travelers? They don’t travel to escape life; they travel to understand it. They explore how they fit into this big, beautiful, complicated world.

So, my advice is this: get crystal clear on what you want from your travels and lean into that. If you want to travel more, ask yourself, What do I want to learn about myself? Then, go find the places and experiences that will teach you those lessons. Anyone can take a trip, but true travel? That will change your life in ways you never expected.

Why did you choose to relocate to Southeast Asia?

Why Southeast Asia? Good question.

My first time living abroad was in Asia; honestly, I never thought I’d leave. But life had other plans. During a vacation back home, I was in a head-on collision, and that shifted everything. I tried to return for a few years, but eventually, I let go and settled elsewhere. I started my family and, for a while, thought maybe living abroad again just wasn’t in the cards for me.

Then the pandemic hit, and with it came a wave of clarity. I realized there was still so much I wanted to experience in life. But Southeast Asia wasn’t initially on my radar—it felt far, and I wanted my son to be closer to his father. Still, I started exploring the best places for me to live, even looking at it through the lens of my astrological chart. Thailand checked a lot of boxes for what I wanted in life. But once I dug deeper, I discovered their burning season, and well…I like my lungs. I wasn’t about to move somewhere to have to move again for three to four months each year.

Then I remembered Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I visited about twelve years ago and had briefly considered living there. So when I returned, it felt familiar, comfortable—even welcoming. It just clicked. I guess you could say it spoke to me, and that was that.

What are the must have items in your packing list?

Child, listen—hair products! I’m a Black woman rocking natural hair, so that’s non-negotiable. Need I say more?

Next up, lotion without whitening cream. Living in Asia, it feels like every product is trying to strip away the little melanin folks have, and that’s not the vibe. And since I have a little brown son, books where he can see himself are always on my must-have list. Representation matters, even in the suitcase.

Now, the rest? It’s all about the kitchen. I love to eat, and I’m not about to be out here without my staples. I need liquid smoke (because I don’t eat pork), some seasoned salt—good ol’ Lawry’s—salmon seasoning, and grits. Give me my comfort food, and I’m good. I’m easy like that.

Why do you think it’s important for women to travel?

I think it’s important for everyone to travel, but for women? It’s essential. Travel changes you in ways that staying in your comfort zone simply can’t.

I especially believe women should travel in their early twenties—before marriage, before kids, before all the responsibilities start piling up. Why? Because it gives you the chance to discover who you are outside of the roles and expectations that usually define us. Too often, women get married or have children and somewhere along the way, they lose a sense of self. It’s hard to find yourself when your identity is wrapped up in what you do for others, rather than who you are at your core.

Your twenties are the perfect time to peel back those layers and start unlearning all the things your family, culture, and society told you about who you should be. It’s your time to figure out what you want, what lights you up, and what doesn’t serve you. And when you travel during that time, you get to see yourself in different environments, meet people from all walks of life, and challenge your own worldview.

So, if you do decide to get married or have kids later, you’re not climbing an uphill battle trying to rediscover yourself in the middle of the chaos. You won’t feel like you’re missing out, because you’ve already invested that time in getting to know you—without anyone else’s expectations hovering over your head.

Where can people follow your travel journeys?

I am a YouTuber, as my child would say. So, www.YouTube.com/@chajones. I have a podcast called Life’s A Vacay; you can tap in on almost all the podcast platforms or at www.lifesavacay.com