Marti Chooses Joy and Brightens our Community
When I first met Marti, a resident at Prairie City Landing, it was her pair of red cowboy boots that made me feel we were kindred spirits. I’ve always loved red shoes, so when I learned about a resident who bought a pair of red cowboy boots in anticipation of the line dancing class, I knew this was someone I wanted to know better!
And boy, was I right! Marti is someone who can chase away the clouds on an overcast day. She laughs easily, focuses on the positive, and openly shares her gratitude. A conversation with Marti is a rare treat that leaves me smiling—and reaching for my own red shoes to bask in that joy.
Marti’s joy stems from her choice to be happy, even in the face of tragedy. Everyone who has lived has suffered, and when Marti lost her husband of 56 years last April, she lost not only her spouse but also her best friend, her business partner, her travel companion, and so much more.
Her son worried about his mom alone in her house. Marti didn’t want him to lose sleep over her, so she agreed to look into senior living communities. Unfortunately, even someone as positive as Marti was not excited by what she first saw. So many communities felt sullen and void of energy—the exact opposite of Marti. “They weren’t having fun,” Marti noted.
Then her daughter-in-law encouraged her to visit Prairie City Landing. “No place was even the slightest bit comparable to Tenfold,” Marti remembered. “I’m getting chills right now because I’m so excited and I love being here so much. The people—everybody from the housekeepers to the maintenance people—are all the friendliest you’ll meet. It’s just wonderful!”
It was that excitement that inspired Marti, out on a shopping trip with her granddaughters, to get the pair of red cowboy boots. Her granddaughters were looking for riding boots when the red boots caught Marti’s eye. Since childhood, she had wanted a pair of red cowboy boots, and here she was, finally fulfilling that wish. Her granddaughters readily approved of the purchase. “They’re so you! You’ve got to get them!” they encouraged Marti.
Since moving, Marti has especially enjoyed the fitness classes taught by Jason Cherry. “He’s wonderful! He’s got all sorts of things and I can’t do half of them, but I enjoy the classes,” Marti said, laughing. “He’ll give you a high-five, and that’s just so cool!” Marti, soaking up the positive energy of Jason’s classes and sharing that positivity with her gratitude.
Marti is also filled with gratitude for her neighbor, Shirley. “She came and knocked on my door and took me under her wing,” Marti remembered of her first day at Prairie City Landing. Since that day, Marti learned that she and Shirley have a lot in common and she cherishes their new friendship.
At one point in our conversation, Marti mentioned how her son was always so positive, noting, “He just keeps me positive.” I had to laugh, thinking that it was Marti’s positivity that shaped her son, not the other way around. However, the more I reflect on it, the more I believe Marti is also correct: whatever you share with the world comes back to you. When you share positivity and joy, you receive positivity and joy.
Marti doesn’t need bright shoes to cheer up the world around her; she is all the joy you could ever need! However, if her red boots spark a conversation, I’m grateful she has them! Spending time with Marti reminds me that change is inevitable, but how we approach it is our choice. When we choose joy, like Marti, we make the world a better place—the kind of place we want to be.
Curious about the joyful community at Prairie City Landing? Our Counselors would be happy to introduce you!
Learn more about life at Prairie City Landing in our FAQs Guide: Your Questions Answered by the People Who Make Tenfold Communities Amazing.
