Communication

If you know me, you may think one of my strengths is communication. Honesty comes naturally, and my approach is direct.

Well—yes and no.

With enough time to prepare, I communicate very well. I can speak in public when I’m ready. One of the reasons I love writing is because I have time to get my thoughts and opinions clear and concise. In contrast, my spontaneous communication skills are a hot mess. I say the wrong thing, agree to something I can’t do, don’t say what I really think, or panic and string together some absurdities that aren’t 100 percent truthful. The last one is the worst.

My latest communication debacle turned what should have been a one-time uncomfortable conversation into a two-week saga and extra money out of my pocketbook.

It all started when I decided to end my gym membership.

I have loved my gym, and still do, but my needs changed and I was going in a different direction. It was time. I drove to the gym and waited to speak with the manager. I told her what was going on in my life, and what wasn’t working for me anymore. She looked at me with a devasted expression on her face and exclaimed,

“NO! We can’t lose you!”

Then she offered a membership upgrade the next month—for FREE.

I panicked.

Stick to your guns, Holly! Don’t back down! But…I didn’t want to be disagreeable. The offer was so generous! I really didn’t want a fight.

I agreed to the new terms.

As I drove back home, I was so frustrated with myself. I didn’t want the free month! UGH.

Four days passed, and armed with a resolve to cancel this membership, I drove to the gym again, praying that a different employee would be there. As I pulled up, I could see the manager through the glass. I gathered all the courage I could muster, walked in, and heard myself say,

“I’ve been thinking about it, and I think I’d like to freeze my account instead.”

What the??

NOOOOOOOOO.

HOLLY! What on earth was I saying?! I wanted to cancel—CANCEL—and yet the words coming out of my mouth were lie after lie. Yes, a freeze would be good. Yes, two months would be great. My insides were screaming as I verbally agreed to a two-month freeze. She turned the screen to me and I signed the new agreement, noticing that I had to pay a fee for these two months of not working out!

Oh, boy. This was going in the wrong direction, and FAST.

I drove back home, deflated as ever.

Why on earth could I not cancel? Why did I make such a simple thing so dang hard? I had to find a solution online. After some googling, I did find a way. That night, I tossed and turned, mulling over how stupid I had been. Around 4 am, I couldn’t stand it. I got up, got on my phone, and canceled my membership, but not without a hiccup.

As part of my cancellation, they required a 60-day notice. Two more months of payments.

FINE.

I think it’s ridiculous, but I knew the terms when I signed up. However, remember that first visit and my upgraded free month? Well, that upgrade DOUBLED my monthly fee. So now, instead of paying two more months at my usual rate, I get to pay double. Just to cancel an elite membership I never wanted and never asked for.

All of this because my communication was a joke.

So I am going to go in to the gym—one last time—and ask if they will adjust these two months to the rate I’ve been paying the past three years. Honestly, I am a bit worried that I will come out this time having agreed to open my own gym! Or something WORSE!

Just kidding (I hope!).

The fourth time is going to be a charm, I know it. As much as I adore writing, I am determined to improve my communication with people in REAL LIFE.

Face to face.

Today.

Heaven knows I need the practice.