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KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- If anyone knows about overcoming adversity, abduction survivor Elizabeth Smart does.

On Monday evening, Smart spoke to a sold-out crowd of more than 500 in Kirksville about overcoming extreme adversity in a traumatic situation.

Her abduction 10 years ago made national headlines for months.

When she was 14, Smart was kidnapped from her Salt Lake City bedroom and held captive for nine months by her kidnappers before she was rescued.  

She told KTVO the fact she made it out alive is a miracle and blessing.

"I think about it because I choose to think about it, and I speak about it because I choose to speak about it, not because I don't have anything else to speak about or anything else to think about,” said Smart. “I believe that my experience might be able to help somebody else."

Smart travels the country giving talks like her one in Kirksville where she speaks about preventing crimes against kids.

"I feel like almost every opportunity that is placed before me where I can share a message of hope, but also talk about other issues that are very important to me, like child safety and prevention of crimes against children, than I feel like it's a wonderful opportunity, and I want to make the most of it,” said Smart.

We asked Smart if she still has nightmares about her abduction.

Surprisingly she said, no, she sleeps like a rock.

Smart's appearance was part of the 6th anniversary celebration of Northeast Regional Medical Center's "Healthy Woman" program.

You'll find a link to John Garlock’s unedited interview with Smart by clicking here.