Albert Einstein once said, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” Change is inevitable. Sometimes we embrace it: exploring a new place, donning a sweater to keep us cozy as the mercury dips, or meeting a friend we didn’t know we were missing. More often it feels like change happens to us. The world keeps spinning, leaving us dizzy trying to keep pace.
Sometimes change strikes overnight. You go to bed planning your next day at work teaching high school students, and before your alarm goes off the next morning, your body changes. That’s what happened to Valita Schut. Twenty-three years into her teaching career, she suffered a stroke that changed her world.
Despite, or maybe because of, this life-altering event, Valita demonstrated remarkable strength, determination, and wisdom. She completed her teaching career, training other teachers for two years after her stroke. She managed her house, cared for her four children, and embraced her grandchildren. Yet Valita knew that her life had shifted. The axis had tipped a little further and the once easily handled mundane tasks of daily life presented new challenges.
Concerned for their mother, Valita’s children worried about her living alone. They feared she might experience another stroke without anyone nearby to help. They recognized their mom had much to teach others and they wanted to protect her, leading to difficult decisions: taking away her car keys, selling her house, and moving her into a secure community.
Just when Valita had lost enough, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The community she had joined, like many, prioritized safety over everything. Residents were left in the dark about what was happening.
One can be changed by circumstances, or one can change their circumstances. Valita chose the latter. She packed her bags, hailed a cab, and showed up at her daughter’s house!
Living with family felt liberating compared to the first community Valita joined. Still, sleeping on a sofa and trying to fit her life into the lives of her family was a logistical juggling act that required too much compromise.
Eventually, Valita’s son found Bruceville Point. Valita was not shy about voicing her concerns—she refused to move into a community that was going to restrict her ability to live her life. Yet she recognized that her life was intertwined with her children’s and grandchildren’s lives. For their lives to be full, Valita needed to be well.
Valita moved to Bruceville Point in 2021 and discovered it to be more liberating than she anticipated. She has an apartment with a patio where she can easily walk her dog. Freed from cooking and cleaning, she can care for herself surrounded by a support network ready to assist in emergencies.
Valita and her dog, Rue, enjoying a moment on her patio.
Living fully is not easy. Some days are hard. Yet these challenges often prepare us for the future. We may not choose to embrace every struggle, but we must accept and learn from them. Valita has not stopped learning. Her wisdom deepens with each new experience.
When I asked Valita what she wished she would have known, I expected an answer like, “I wish I would have known I’d feel comfortable here in six months.” Instead, she offered a more profound insight: “Nothing. I had to learn it for myself,” she explained, “I had to live through those days, experience them, to understand.”
Valita is living and learning, generously sharing her wisdom. She is a cherished member of the Bruceville Point community and a beloved mother and grandmother. And if you need another reason to stop in and learn from Valita, her dog will gladly greet you with friendly attention.
If you or one you love is thinking about charting a new path, counselors at Bruceville Point can answer your questions and guide you. Please reach out to schedule a tour or request more information here.
Discover life at Tenfold’s Bruceville Point
We created Bruceville Point to support our residents to live their best lives possible. Our community’s design, residences, activities and amenities are all focused on helping to connect, engage and create an enriched life.
If you’re searching for senior living that is different from the rest, we hope you will consider Tenfold’s Bruceville Point. We invite you to download our complimentary guide Staying Home vs. Senior Living. Contact us to speak to an advisor, or schedule your tour of Bruceville Point today to experience senior living and our community for yourself.
