Michael Leask

I was trying to decide how to write this. It is so personal, and only those who know will know. It’s not enough to say thank you; it is important to explain why that is significant. I think I’m humble and a team player, so it isn’t easy to describe what I excelled at to garner sincerity. I would like to divide the thank yous into the members and the Manager.

My last day at Fit4Less in April 2025 was an emotional roller coaster. I liked the job as a Host, but the realization of not being there sometimes did not catch up with my conscious mind, and as I cleaned equipment, I would slow down. Melancholy is a decent word. I was sad and a little depressed because I would not get to see the familiar faces that I’d seen for 1 year, 8 months, and 5 days (my Manager wrote that for me). I wouldn’t get to talk to the same people who reciprocated, “Good Morning,” when they arrive, and we make contact or chat and find out how their lives have been since we last saw each other.

I appreciated their sincerity when I helped them with an issue or when they acknowledged my contributions to keeping the club clean.

I didn’t pay any mind to it. That was the job, but having people appreciate the effort put into it was delightful. What I wasn’t expecting on my last day was just how appreciative members were. I was given hugs, and with that contact, I felt guilty about leaving them. I warmed and steadied the dam that could burst at any moment when I was thanked by a member for being the first friend she had there. Her interaction with me gave her the confidence to talk to people and work out with them.

I think it was the first time in my life that I impacted someone’s life outside of my close circle, or at least from recent memory.

With the staff, my Manager was the best manager I’ve ever had, as was her boss. I say this after working in 2 Engineering firms, 2 Municipalities, 1 private company, and the GIS and publishing businesses I started and ended. She listened to every opinion and piece of advice from the staff. She allowed us to try new approaches while auditing to see if they worked. Even though the customer service that Hosts are expected to perform, the Manager had to help rough and terrible customers. I could not do her job. Since we’re on the East Coast, I likened her position to the Captain of a ship. She was the one who hired me, herself being hired a month before me. We weathered many storms together as a crew member on her ship and many sunny days. Getting competent staff who respect the job details for the money we get paid is challenging. Being a Host is a tough job, physically demanding. The staff who have remained for long periods have a certain level of grit to carry them forward into the future and make them successful.

There are many stories I could tell, from downright hostile members to the funny ones. I’m not going to because the context would take too long to describe.

Regardless, working at Fit4Less was a positive point in my life, and though that chapter is now closed, I still have fond memories to keep me going. Also, the last Thursday of every month is a free day, so I get to see many members again when I go.