Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the

Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the

Tammy Duckworth
22/09/2025
22/09/2025

Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the relearning, the months of rehabilitation therapy - to uncover our true abilities and how we can put them to work for us in ways we may have never imagined.

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Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the relearning, the months of rehabilitation therapy - to uncover our true abilities and how we can put them to work for us in ways we may have never imagined.
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the relearning, the months of rehabilitation therapy - to uncover our true abilities and how we can put them to work for us in ways we may have never imagined.
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the relearning, the months of rehabilitation therapy - to uncover our true abilities and how we can put them to work for us in ways we may have never imagined.
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the relearning, the months of rehabilitation therapy - to uncover our true abilities and how we can put them to work for us in ways we may have never imagined.
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the relearning, the months of rehabilitation therapy - to uncover our true abilities and how we can put them to work for us in ways we may have never imagined.
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the relearning, the months of rehabilitation therapy - to uncover our true abilities and how we can put them to work for us in ways we may have never imagined.
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the relearning, the months of rehabilitation therapy - to uncover our true abilities and how we can put them to work for us in ways we may have never imagined.
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the relearning, the months of rehabilitation therapy - to uncover our true abilities and how we can put them to work for us in ways we may have never imagined.
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the relearning, the months of rehabilitation therapy - to uncover our true abilities and how we can put them to work for us in ways we may have never imagined.
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the
Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the

The words of Tammy Duckworth, “Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability—the trauma, the relearning, the months of rehabilitation therapy—to uncover our true abilities and how we can put them to work for us in ways we may have never imagined,” shine with the light of resilience born from suffering. They remind us that within the ashes of trial lies the hidden flame of strength. What seems like loss may in truth be a doorway to new power, concealed until hardship strips away illusion and awakens the soul.

At the heart of this saying is the paradox of life: that trauma and limitation can reveal greater freedom. The relearning of the body and the spirit in times of struggle is not mere recovery—it is transformation. The very weight that seeks to crush becomes the forge in which character is refined, and from the forge emerges an unbreakable will. Thus, the so-called disability becomes the teacher, and the self once thought weakened discovers unimagined strength.

The origin of these words rests in the life of Tammy Duckworth herself, a warrior who bore wounds in service and rose from them not diminished, but renewed. Through her trials of rehabilitation therapy, she found that the human spirit is not defined by what is lost, but by how one adapts and rises anew. Her testimony is not for herself alone, but for all who suffer: that hidden within hardship is the seed of unlooked-for abilities.

Let this truth be passed on: do not despise the wounds that life may bring. For though they tear the flesh, they may awaken the soul. The path of pain, of relearning, of slow and steady struggle, is also the path where new gifts are born. And those who, like Duckworth, embrace the trial with courage, will find themselves not broken, but remade—able to work with a strength and vision the untested may never know.

Tammy Duckworth
Tammy Duckworth

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With the author

Female service members are so integrated into the military, so critical and vital to all functions of the military, from combat service support to combat support, to direct combat, that we could not go to war as a nation - we could not defend America - without our women.

Tammy Duckworth

When I first ran, being a woman in politics was seen as both a negative and also a positive. You could attract more women voters, but on the other hand, a lot of men wouldn't vote for you.

Tammy Duckworth

We owe it to all our veterans to make sure they have a chance to achieve the American Dream, just like the rest of us.

Tammy Duckworth

Nobody wants to be on food stamps, but when my family lost everything, we were grateful for it. I was grateful the program was there so I could concentrate on my schoolwork and not on my empty belly. We were grateful that we had the support we needed to roll up our sleeves and rebuild our lives.

Tammy Duckworth

I have personally seen what a devastating medical condition can cost.

Tammy Duckworth

I know from personal experience that engaging with your community and helping others helps foster a sense of shared sacrifice and - at a time when our politics seem more focused on tearing us apart than bringing us together - that shared sacrifice will help us rekindle the national unity that has made us the strongest nation in the world.

Tammy Duckworth

When I was young, my dad, a veteran who attended college on the GI Bill, lost his job at age 55 when the company he worked for was sold. My entire family pitched in - my mom took in sewing, and I got a minimum wage job after school.

Tammy Duckworth

I actually shoot. I enjoy target practice. I find it really zen. You focus on nothing but the target. You have to control your breathing. It's all part of my years in the military, where I was taught to become a marksman but also to respect my weapon.

Tammy Duckworth

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Have 5 Comment Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the

MANguyen Minh Anh

This quote really resonated with me because it suggests that sometimes, the greatest discoveries about ourselves come when we’re forced into uncomfortable situations. How does experiencing trauma or a disability push people to redefine their abilities and goals? What steps can we take to identify and embrace these newfound strengths during difficult times? I’m intrigued by the idea that the path to self-discovery often comes from the very struggles we try to avoid.

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NNNguyen Nhu Nguyet

Tammy Duckworth's quote highlights how the journey through trauma and recovery can unlock abilities we never knew we had. It’s a powerful reminder that even in our lowest moments, there can be immense growth. How do we recognize these abilities in ourselves when facing such adversity? Is it through the process of rehabilitation or the support of others that we begin to see our own strength? I’m curious to hear how others have experienced this shift.

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DTVan Dau thi

I find Tammy Duckworth’s words inspiring. It makes me think about how personal growth often comes from the most challenging experiences. How does dealing with a disability reshape a person’s view of themselves and their abilities? Can we truly understand our potential until we’re pushed to our limits? I’m curious how people who’ve faced similar challenges have discovered their own strengths and used them in ways they hadn’t imagined before.

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DHNguyen Dinh Huy

This quote from Tammy Duckworth is powerful because it emphasizes the transformative power of hardship. The idea that trauma and rehabilitation can help us uncover our true abilities makes me think about how we often underestimate our capacity for resilience. Could facing a difficult situation be the key to unlocking strengths we never realized we had? How do we harness these newfound abilities to make a positive impact in our lives and others’?

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HNThai Hien Nguyen

Tammy Duckworth’s quote makes me reflect on how adversity can reveal hidden strengths. Dealing with a disability certainly involves immense challenges, but could these challenges also lead to personal growth and self-discovery? How often do we take for granted our own abilities until we’re forced to adapt or change? I wonder how many people have unlocked their true potential through hardships they initially thought were obstacles.

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