✨ The Other Destination: Returning to What Truly Matters ✨
- Toni T. Gibson
- Aug 21
- 3 min read
Okay angels, we’ve made some weight adjustments to be beach body ready, perfected our skincare routine, got a couple stamps in the passport and now, it’s time to go back inside! We’ve been outside all summer long and did all the things, and while it’s important to maintain a healthy work-life balance, it’s just as important to take some time for quiet rest, have a financial reset, a mental health cleanse and refresh your home environment.
It is often said that home is where the heart is and your heart should never be left neglected.
While we, as flight attendants, are tasked with doing the “Lord’s work”, attending to those that travel by air, our home base nurtures our spirit and houses most of what we hold dear in our lives. Just as with the heart, our homes are pivotal to our wellbeing and require nurturing and maintenance. Neglect could cause serious consequences. The relationship that we have with our home is reciprocal. Although the profession may be migratory, our homes are the true reflection of who we are.
For many, it’s a sanctuary and refuge. It’s the one place that you can always get a good night’s rest or a decent meal. Of course, we enjoy the travel and change of scenery but after the delays, bad weather and rude passengers, there’s no feeling like when you step through the threshold of your home sweet home. It is within these walls that we can truly be ourselves, unwind and recharge. The experiences that we have, in this profession, can be priceless. The places and things that we see, the people we meet, and bonds created with fellow crew members are profoundly rewarding. It’s what keeps many of us coming back to sign-in for that next sequence, work long hours unpaid, expose ourselves to various occupational hazards and leave loved ones for days at a time. But home, home gives us a sense of familiarity; a place where we can always belong and be welcomed.
The peace and refuge from the world that home provides is often overlooked. When the world becomes too much, it is home that becomes the safe haven.
We can sometimes look at home as a place to go when you’re unable to participate or be included; however, home can be sorely taken for granted but also missed and longed for. There is much to be said and appreciated when engaging in fellowship with friends, family and loved ones and having shared experiences out and away. Our world provides many reasons to go outside and explore but don’t neglect the comfort, warmth and strength that can be found within your own four walls, at home.
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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