16 comments
Hang in there! These are important and incredibly challenging questions we all grapple with, and you’re not alone. Enjoy your vacation and best of luck finding your next step. I love reading your blog, Kara! Rock on!
Hang in there! We all go through that phase in our career. After 25 years. I am so glad I stuck it out & made it work. Good & bad. Hope you do too:)
this post hit so close to home. I’ve been a flight attendant for 2 short years and although the good days definitely outnumber the bad ones, I can’t help but feel like I need more. I have not visited many places due to the fact that I work for a domestic airline and first year pay/schedule weren’t exactly supportive of a jetset life, but I don’t wish to see the world on a jet lagged layover. I much like you want more, but cannot decide the next step despite my love of flying. Thank you for writing this.
It’s a scary/unknown place to be emotionally; not knowing what to do next. I have found some clarity over the past week, but still, I don’t know what I will do next. I know I will miss flying if I leave. Thanks for reading and commenting:)
Oh, I’ve been there!
I think many of us have been.
You think about quitting and moving on to another adventure in your life, but then realize afterwards (either through actually quitting or being “laid-off indefinitely”) that you miss flying incredibly and would give anything to get back into it.
That has been the story I have heard every time from all that have “been there” before me. I just need to adjust my flight attendant life a bit
Just wanted to let you know you aren’t alone. I think the greatest blessing of this job is also it’s greatest curse. We escape our “bubble” to go out into this incredible world. Then one day the almost horrible realization hits that it would be so much more fulfilling to stay in this place or that place for longer than 24 or 48 hours. I have learned so much about myself and the world in general through flying. I’ve also learned that there is so much more out there that I can only dream of experiencing. This blog has been a major source of inspiration for me and I hope you are able to find what you truly want/need from this “soul search”.
Thank you so much Steve for your comment. Life is definitely always changing. I’m glad you have found the blog useful in your own journey. That makes me feel like I do have a place:)
Having been a long haul flight attendant for 17 yrs, with no original intention to do anything of the sort, your blog actually annoyed me beyond belief! I’d be interested to see who you worked for, your upbringing etc. I’m working class, from Glasgow, with a maths and econmics degree and although I love my colleagues and will miss them so much, I’m ready to stop flying.
This whole nonsense boring self indulgent blog you blabbed….completely unnecessary!! That’s what diarys are for!!
I would just like to point out that the literal definition from the dictionary of “Blog,” is an “online diary; thoughts published to the web.” I also have a degree, and the self-indulgent blog that you refer is turning into a profitable business. So, if you think that I am lazy or that this platform is unnecessary, just ask my Careers Editor who became a flight attendant partly through my encouragement. Or ask my Destinations Editor who just got to go to Israel with me because of this blog. She didn’t pay for most expenses. Or, ask the other people who have identified with the things that I have been said here. Yes, the content is not for everyone, but I will not apologize for my thoughts. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.
haters will hate, any time you get successful… especially as a blogger. Keep it up. Have tough skin, and you do, too. But I can totally relate! If they don’t like it, don’t read it = jealousy
Hi Kara, I stumbled upon your blog. And I love it! It’s been very helpful to me. And I think you have a very genuine voice, and one that I can relate to. I’m a working writer. Mainly screenplays. I have my first book being published next year. I love writing. Although the business side can be “tough” and as a writer, sometimes writers have to have another “job.” I’m considering flying the friendly skies and I’m about to do a video interview for an airline that I travel on frequently and that I’m a big fan of. I felt compelled to comment because that gentleman clearly missed the point of your post. Anyway, I’m glad I stumbled upon your blog. Very insightful, interesting and enjoyable reads! Cheers, CG
Keep it up! I’m an entrepreneur and blogger first, got a part time airline (not FA) job a little over 2 years ago now, love the travel and the experiences. Just found your blog but wonder why you mention you pursued a different airline over the big guys, ie.. Delta, United as an FA? I’m considering moving from on the ground to IFS if I can……. and should. Is your airline more flexible with time off etc as opposed to the big ones? What are the main differences? Why wouldn’t you work for Delta/AA/United, etc? Thanks!
Where would I go? What do I do? How would my life be? What if I was too stationary?
Somehow stumbled onto your blog…Check out locationrebel.com for a bunch of people doing the slow (or fast) travel lifestyle while living off of a laptop. Anyway, good luck!
Your blog entry made me cry. I hope you figured it out. I’m exactly where you were right now. I used to have more fun though and took the job to survive the recession. But I feel so lonely and just don’t know what to do.
If you don’t mind me asking, what changed after writing is post?