We have so much pride in welcoming these passengers onto the

The words of Christina Ricci — “We have so much pride in welcoming these passengers onto the plane, and they have so much pride in travel. It's something that I definitely always remember, when I'm playing a scene on the plane, just to imbue everything with that sense of excitement.” — are spoken not merely as the lines of an actress but as the testimony of one who has touched the deeper spirit of human movement. She recalls that travel is not simply a change of place, but a sacred passage filled with emotion, longing, and the dream of new horizons. Both those who serve and those who journey carry a dignity that transcends the ordinary.

To show pride in welcoming is to recognize that every act of service, however small, is infused with meaning. The flight attendant offering a greeting, the pilot guiding the craft through the skies, the crew ensuring safety and comfort — all partake in a ritual as old as humanity itself: the guiding of souls from one land to another. Just as the ferrymen of the ancients carried voyagers across rivers, so too do these modern keepers of the skies carry men and women across oceans and continents. Ricci’s words remind us that behind every role, whether on screen or in life, lies a chance to reflect that greater story.

The passengers, too, carry their share of pride. For to journey is to declare oneself alive to possibility. In ages past, only the bold or the desperate dared to leave the safety of the village walls. The caravan rider, the sailor, the pilgrim — all stepped into the unknown with courage. Today, the plane has made distant lands nearer, yet the heart of the traveler is unchanged: to step aboard is still to step into adventure. Ricci captures this spirit well, that sense of excitement that electrifies the very air when strangers gather, bound together by one shared passage through the heavens.

History offers us examples of such dignity in travel. Think of Charles Lindbergh, who crossed the Atlantic alone, carrying with him not only the hope of his nation but the awe of humanity itself. Or recall Amelia Earhart, who braved the dangers of the sky to prove that a woman, too, could conquer the great distances of the earth. Their courage imbued air travel with something almost mythic, a reflection of humanity’s eternal longing to rise above limitations. It is this ancient echo, perhaps, that Ricci feels and seeks to recreate when she plays her scenes with reverence.

Her words also contain a lesson about artistry. To “imbue everything with that sense of excitement” is to act with memory, with awareness of the real experiences behind the story. Acting, at its highest, is not mimicry but truth distilled — to carry into performance the reverence, the joy, the tension that real men and women feel when embarking on their journeys. Thus, Ricci’s craft becomes not only entertainment, but a reminder of the wonder inherent in something we too often take for granted: stepping into the skies.

The lesson for us is clear: in every act, whether grand or humble, remember the pride and excitement of being human. To travel is not only to move but to grow. To serve another, even with a smile or a welcome, is to take part in a sacred exchange. The one who journeys and the one who aids the journey are bound together in dignity. If even in a performance Ricci finds it worthy to carry this truth, then how much more should we carry it in the real scenes of our daily lives.

Practical wisdom follows. When you travel, do not rush through the motions with impatience. Pause to feel the ancient wonder of the journey. When you serve others — whether in work, in family, or in community — do it with pride, remembering that service itself is a noble act. And when you create, whether in art or labor, strive to imbue it with authenticity, with a sense of meaning that lifts it above the mechanical.

So remember, child of tomorrow: the plane is more than metal, the passenger more than cargo, the journey more than distance. They are all threads in the great tapestry of human striving, woven with pride and lit by the fire of excitement. Christina Ricci’s words remind us to honor that spirit, in art, in service, and in life itself.