As expectant parents, we were not dreaming of having to get ready for years of surgeries, traveling to Philadelphia to see a team of doctors, and having to turn screws on our child’s face to correct her bone structure. Add to that the reactions from children and some adults, who look at your child like they came from another planet. My wife and I struggled on how to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We learned that we can’t control everything, but the one thing we can do is control what we do ourselves. When Sydney started to learn to speak I began to teach her the mantra we say today. The mantra has helped Sydney in so many ways especially when she felt down about making friends in new schools. This mantra turned out to be so powerful I had to share it and wrote a children’s book about it called “Princess Sydney Strong, What Makes Me Different.” My goal now is to share with everyone how this mantra has also helped my wife and I get through some rough times ourselves. As a public speaker, I feel sharing this mantra with parents, medical professions, social workers, students, and caregivers can help others, as well as themselves, as they navigate through their own journey.