After a horrific shooting in 2011, former U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords became well-known across the country for her tenacity and resolve. She was seriously injured in the incident and needed a lot of time to heal. Her words capture the difficult process of recovery and rehabilitation.

Imagine overcoming a serious injury as if you were climbing out of a deep valley with sheer cliffs all around you. Every step forward presents a challenge, but Giffords made the decision to use yoga and a variety of therapies to meet these challenges head-on. Each therapy session helps her regain abilities she once took for granted and build strength, making them like stepping stones in the climb.

Physical therapy restored her body's abilities after it had been severely compromised, speech therapy helped her regain effective communication skills, and yoga restored her flexibility and balance. Every type of therapy was a unique tool in her toolbox that helped her chip away at the obstacle in her way.

Gifford's story is motivational because she actively pursued recovery every day rather than passively waiting for it to happen. Her method demonstrates that healing is an active process requiring perseverance, patience, and effort rather than a passive one.