“Hello! Good Afternoon. Welcome to Prestige Fitness. How are you today?” Liz asked, as another member walked through the door. As a Member Experience Specialist, Liz’s job comprised of greeting members as they entered the gym, scanning their account cards, and handling customer service concerns. And by concerns, it most always meant customer complaints.
“I’m doing fine, thank you,” the gentleman responded without breaking his stride. “How about you?”
Liz smiled, “Ohhh you know, just another day in paradise.”
The member paused at this and laughed, “Ha, in paradise, huh? Good for you.”
Liz was having a tough day. The night before she had gotten into a fight with her boyfriend. Well, soon to be ex-boyfriend. Deep down she knew that he was already gone from her, but she was in denial. Despite the lack of chemistry between them in the last month or so, she wanted to do everything she could to save what once was. But she knew it was over. As soon as he said “I know” in response to her uttering three powerful words, she knew it was over.
“Good Afternoon. Welcome to Prestige. How are you today?” Liz asked through a wide smile to another guest walking in the door. Member Experience Specialists were expected to smile, at all times. This was mandatory, instructed directly from their manager. Lately, smiling felt like wearing a mask. She could close her eyes, softly slip it over her temples and, voilà, just like magic she would be smiling.
The incoming member responded, “I’m doing okay, thank you for asking. What about you?”
“Oh, I’m doing great. Just another day in paradise,” she answered. She was worried. She couldn’t make the full payment on her student loan last month, and the next one would be due sooner than she cared to think about. It seemed like no matter how many hours she slaved away between her full-time and two additional part-time jobs she just wasn’t able to scrape enough money together to get ahead of things. The pile of debt just grew larger and larger. Would she ever be able to climb her way out and over it?
“Good Afternoon. Welcome to Prestige Fitness. How are you today?” Liz asked with a large smile. This time the lady who walked in just shrugged her shoulders, scanned her card, and walked on by. A momentary relief. But soon after, a couple entered. There was no time for Liz to take off her smile. The couple, seemingly married, or at least engaged judging by how young they were, walked in shoulder-to-shoulder.
“Good Afternoon. Welcome to Prestige. How are both of you today?” Liz asked through a convincing smile.
“Aw, thank you for asking,” the woman responded. “We’re fantastic. My fiancé and I just moved to this area and wanted to join the gym.”
“Yes, thank you for asking, indeed,” the fiancé almost spoke over his other half, “everyone seems so nice here. And how about you?”
“Oh, I’m doing fantastic as well,” Liz said with mechanic rhythm, “just another day in paradise.” Liz had been losing sleep. Even though her mother had returned from the hospital a week ago, she remained ill. The doctors ruled out cancer but had not been able to diagnose what was causing her ailments. They were planning to take her back for more testing tomorrow, but there seemed to be no promise of an answer. What could it be, Liz would lay awake wondering, why is this happening?
Next, an older man came through the front doors. He appeared a little worse for wear, stepping with the assistance of a cane. He wore a look of being stretched too thin from the peaks and valleys of his life. The wrinkles on his face gave the impression that he understood, even without knowing what you were going through. He looked into Liz, who softly lowered her smile. She sustained a grin, but only so large that her lips did not part.
“Hello, welcome to Prestige. How are you today?” she asked.
The man looked back at her, “I’m not so bad.” Pausing, he held her gaze. “And how about yourself, young lady?”
“I’m okay.” To this the old man smiled and nodded. Behind him, a short line had formed as several members coincidentally came through the front door at the same time.
“Hello, welcome to Prestige Fitness. How are you today? … I’m doing great. Just another day in paradise.” A few nights ago her car was broken into and her laptop was stolen.
“Hello, welcome to Prestige. How are you today? … I’m doing wonderful. Just another day in paradise.” Someone on the phone earlier cursed at her for no reason.
“Hello, welcome to Prestige Fitness. How are you today? … I’m fantastic, just another day in paradise.” Her friend just got engaged. She should be happy, but all she can think about is how alone she feels.
“Hello, welcome to Prestige. How are you today? … Oh, you know, just another day in paradise.” She was tired. All over. Her body. Her mind. Her soul. Just tired.
“Hello, welcome to Prestige. How are you today? … I’m good. Thank you for asking.” She had never really spent a day in paradise. But no one ever challenged her on it. Liz would say it, as though she were declaring it, and they would always accept it. People don’t always want to see through a mask. They don’t always want to know. Sometimes, life is easier if things just appear to be good. So she never let on; she never bothered to take off her smile.
And whenever anyone asked, she would always say, “I’m doing fine, just another day in paradise.”
Stories About Stuff 