No Good Excuse - a Column by Sean Baumstark

I’ve spent the last six weeks planning and thinking about the things that are important to me. Most of my time and mental energy is focused on personal goals, finances, de:terminence (the nonprofit organization I founded), and habits grounded in exercise. I also do a good amount of planning…

In some ways, I’m probably late to the party. Like many of my friends and fellow columnists at Friedreich’s Ataxia News, adapting to change has been part of living with a progressive disease. I’ve read about Matt Lafleur’s tough journeys on his trike…

It’s hard to believe we’ve started another year with COVID-19 still in the headlines and on everyone’s mind. I’ve always felt that each year passes faster than expected, but the past two years seem to have flown by even faster than usual. I’ve never kept track, but I don’t usually…

This time of year is always chaotic yet fun for me. I enjoy good sweater weather, hot cocoa, and the many Christmas lights I see while driving around town. The chaos comes in many different forms, such as people who aren’t used to driving in the rain, busier days…

Last week, my mom and I visited my aunt and uncle, or her sister and brother-in-law. The trip was different from most of the trips I take, and I’m recognizing that my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) progression is likely to blame. For starters, although I travel fairly often, I don’t usually…

I participated in a group discussion with fellow Friedreich’s ataxia colleagues Matt Lafleur and Kyle Bryant, along with host Ally MacGregor, to kick off “Movember,” a monthlong effort that aims to raise awareness about men’s health issues. Although we’re…

I’m spending a couple days on the road right now, sharing some of my story and philosophies at a fundraiser. This is the first in-person event I’ve participated in since friends at Amicus Therapeutics invited me and my podcast co-host, Kyle Bryant, to their office in…

It’s peculiar how much of life occurs in cycles. One day I feel like I’m on top of the world, and a week later I’m lying in bed due to exhaustion or sickness. One day I feel like I’ve learned so much and am excited to earn my degree, and…

There’s nothing quite like the realization that you aren’t following your own advice or philosophies about personal growth as well as you could be. At least, that’s the case for me right now. Yet again, I’m feeling grateful for this platform and the ability to write on a regular basis.

I recently wrote about finding value in allowing myself time and mental energy to contemplate my reality, especially the hard parts. I don’t remember exactly how this initially came up for me, but it’s been on my mind a lot lately. I’ve also begun to realize that there’s a…