a second book, Mental Sharpening Stones. Instead of revisiting his own story, Jeffrey reached out to the MS community for contributions and collaborations for this new project.Hesaid,“Beforethecognitivesymptoms of MS rewrote their lives, the contributors were involved in television, publication, the judicial system, and the military. While some of them are famous, others are lay people like me. They all bravely shared their MS cognitive challenges, aswell as theirsuccessful strategies for coping with them.” The irony of an author with cognitive challenges isn’t lost on Jeffrey. He detailed one of the most frequent struggles he faces during his creative process, “My thoughts are often delayed and easily lost, so it was vital that I remained organized and avoided distractions, especially while outlining and writing. Not every telephone ring or email needs to be instantly answered, but if I delayed recording a phrase, itwouldn’t be there later, only frustration over a lost thought.” For his next publication, Jeffrey choose to tackle some very different subject matter. In 2015, Jeffrey published his third book, Tunnel, Smuggle, Collect: A Holocaust Boy. With this release, he moved away from the autobiography and self-help style of his first two books, and into the realm of biographical nonfiction. “It is the story of my father’s and grand- parents’ survival and escape from the Warsaw Ghetto. Their resilience and determination in the face of overwhelming odds left a powerful legacy for me and our family to remember. We all face challenges, but that should not be the end point. My family’s survival in Nazi- occupied lands inspires me to deal with any of life’s difficulties, including MS,” he said. Jeffreyoffered tips forfighting the cognitive challenges of MS. “First, I have always relied upon a ‘safety person’ to get me through cognitive fog moments. For me, it is vital to haveatrustedsupportpersonwhounderstands (in advance) my cognitive disconnections and can get me to a safe location to regroup. Along with that, always remember to thank others who help you; they deserve frequent acknowledgment.” His next tips are some that anyone can benefit from, but especially those with MS. “You should seriously declutter your mind and living space. Ask for help and get it done. Crossing off ‘to-do’ items is empowering. Also, if you have an important thought, write it down immediately. Even a couple of words on a napkin may trigger the thought later. If it is a precious thought, don’t trust it to your memory.” Jeffrey also suggests strengthening your body as well as your mind. “Exercise your mind and body on a very regular basis. Within your doctor’s guidance, challenge yourself and vary the routine. No one else can do it for you. With MS, nothing improves by itself.” Jeffrey’s final bit of advice is one that he frequently follows, and it may be the most important one of all. “Share what you have learned with other MSers. It is important to realize that you are not alone and don’t have to silently endure the cognitive and physical challenges of MS. Learning from those who have endured similar MS experiences is priceless, so don’t waste time and energy reinventing the MS wheel of coping.” 25 msfocusmagazine.org