There are people who face adversity and come out bitter, and then there are people like Ruth Schutz who manage to maintain an upbeat attitude.

"A long time ago, I decided I wasn't going to hate my life," she said. "I thought that whatever came to me, I'd learn what I could from it and I learned how to deal with it."

Schutz's friend, Vaudeth Oberlander, said she believes Schutz has a capacity to pull herself out of depression and self-pity.

"She has come to some peace about her life. She told me that," Oberlander said.

Schutz, 75, has had to apply that positive way of thinking in many areas. Her sister, Charleen, died of multiple sclerosis, a disease that afflicts Schutz and has left her paralyzed except for some movement in her left hand.

Schutz has to rely on people for everything in the Meadowbrook Golden Living Center. Schutz and her husband, Herb, moved into the Wesleyan Fountain Springs Center Feb. 23, 1993, but he died two weeks later.

"You have to have strong faith and a loving family," Schutz said. "I also have a wicked sense of humor. When things get really tough, find the funny. There's an upside to everything in life and that keeps me balanced."

While Schutz may have to rely on others to do most activities that require physical movement, she keeps her mind keen with plenty of books. She can finish a 300-page book in a couple of days and her taste in books varies. She loves to read biographies, fiction and history. Her favorite authors include Nora Roberts, James Patterson, Anne Rice and Danielle Steele.

"I have a busy mind," she said. "There are always books I want to read."

She also uses a voice-activated computer to write her own books, one of which has already been published - "Like a Thief in the Night: Essays on My Life with Multiple Sclerosis." Oberlander helped Schutz edit her book, which tells the tale of her life with multiple sclerosis.

Schutz spends every morning on her computer. She is writing another book and also writes verses for gift cards and poetry. It helps keep her occupied.

She also attends church every Sunday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, where she met Oberlander and Lois Howe, another friend.

"Our relationship is centered around her writing," said Oberlander, but they have known one another for 10 years.

"She is an amazing resilient person in the face of almost complete paralysis," Oberlander said. "She is very determined to make her life meaningful despite her having to depend on people for everything. She is absolutely inspirational."

Oberlander described Schutz as a very caring friend. When Oberlander's grandson developed cancer, she said Schutz was asking her how he was and praying for him. "She's very patient with me," she said. "She doesn't make demands. She's understanding about someone not getting things done on time. She's intuitive about the way someone feels on things."

Howe, who has known Schutz for three years, said as a friend, Schutz is confidential and willing to listen to someone's problems. Howe also gets a birthday card and a Christmas card from Schutz every year.

Oberlander added that Schutz goes to a church discussion group every Sunday and expresses her opinion. Talking about current events with Schutz is one of Howe's favorite memories with her friend.

"I really admire her. She's alert about everything that is going on," Howe said. "We talk about things that are going on at the state level. She's a beautiful, intelligent lady. I've never visited with her when she's not been upbeat."

According to Schutz, one of the hardest things about being paralyzed is getting bored because of her active mind, but she says she's lived a rich life and considers herself lucky.

"I'm warm in the winter, cool in the summer," she said. "I get three meals a day. I have clothes. Over half of the world goes to bed hungry every night."

Before her paralysis, Schutz led an active life. She grew up on a farm near Dupree, where she said there was always something to do and the farm was close enough to town. She used to love to dance and sing, but she can't do either anymore.

"Those were hard to give up," Schutz said. "With singing, my sinuses have crudded up my vocal chords."

Schutz worked as a hairdresser for 20 years, which she said she loved, before becoming involved in Working Against Violence Inc. She was one of the women who began the organization, but she wasn't one of the three founding mothers.

"They allowed me to be a part of it and use my talents," Schutz said. "They accepted me and helped me make a transition. For that, I'll be eternally grateful."

Oberlander took Schutz to a fashion show last winter that benefited WAVI, which is one of Oberlander's fondest memories with her friend.

Violence upsets Schutz, and she said she doesn't enjoy watching movies with violence or inappropriate language. She prefers old musicals and musical comedies, as well as television's "Dancing With the Stars."

While Schutz doesn't have any children, she said she treasures her role as aunt to 18 nieces and nephews. "I'm the aunt," she said, laughing.

And while she may not get as many visits from people as she used to, she appreciates the visits she does receive. Members of her graduating class from Dupree High School visit her every year, even though there are only 12 of them left.

"That's just reality," she said. "People have rich lives. You appreciate those who come."