Bracing for Impact: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
- Toni T. Gibson
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
by Toni Gibson, Contributing Writer
Have you ever found yourself planning for the best while quietly preparing for the worst? As aviation professionals, we often imagine the ideal scenario—but there’s always that shadow of a less-favorable outcome lingering in the background. It’s the voice reminding us not to get too optimistic. It’s the scenario we don’t want to acknowledge yet can’t fully ignore.
Our profession conditions us to live in a state of cautious optimism. From delayed or cancelled flights that disrupt our schedules, to unexpected calls from Inflight, to layovers in questionable hotels—we learn to roll with the punches. Over time, we’ve become almost instinctively guarded, bracing for whatever comes next.
Yet, despite the constant uncertainties that fill our year, the holiday season brings something different. For many, it is a time of magic, wonder, and possibility. People move with softer hearts. The world feels lighter. Festive lights twinkle, holiday music fills the air, seasonal drinks return to our favorite coffee shops, and a collective spirit of gratitude seems to blanket the atmosphere.
During this time, you might even find yourself blessed by a stranger’s kindness—a paid-for meal, a purchased tank of gas, or a simple gesture that reflects the true meaning of the season. And for a moment, that protective barrier we carry as crew members becomes a little less heavy. We allow ourselves to lean into the joy of the most wonderful time of the year.
We begin to brace for a different kind of impact—one filled with positivity, warmth, and goodwill. The light we share with others becomes contagious, spreading across passengers and fellow crew members alike. This impact is powerful, yet too easily forgotten when we need it most.
So, as you reflect and take personal inventory, consider how your attitude shapes your productivity, your positivity, and your confidence. This is a flex we should carry with us long after the holidays fade away. The “brace” doesn’t have to be reserved for chaos, disruption, or calamity. It can just as easily be a response to growth, healing, and transformation.
This is the season to brace for something bigger.
Whether you're preparing for a better contract, a more respectful work environment, or an improved quality of life—don’t leave it to chance. Let the holiday season recharge your energy and revive whatever has been lost along the way.
Here’s to bracing for impact—one filled with purpose, power, and possibility.
About the Contributing Writer
Toni has been a Dallas–Fort Worth–based flight attendant for the past four years and currently resides in Celina, Texas, with her husband, Dewayne, and their three children. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, she has called North Texas home for more than 20 years.
A graduate of Purdue University, Toni also holds an MBA in Business Administration from Keller. She is a proud member of Sigma Kappa Psi Sorority and brings a rich background in creative writing and journalism, having served as a staff writer for two independent newspapers. Her professional experience also spans elementary education, early childhood program leadership as a licensed director, mortgage banking, and healthcare administration.
Beyond her career, Toni shares a monthly self-reflective mantra newsletter on her social media platforms, inspiring others through words and perspective. She is also working toward her private pilot’s license and enjoys building flight hours whenever possible. In her free time, she finds joy in golf, line dancing, cooking, reading, hosting, and making lasting memories with her family while traveling the world.
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