Columns

It’s January, and despite the gray skies overhead and the lingering chill in the air, I feel a little more motivated to tackle the mundane tasks left on my to-do list. I’m starting with a thorough check of the batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each level…

Every time I shower, I wrestle with the competing emotions of being a little afraid of a fall and wanting to relax into that delicious feeling of hot water beating on my back. A couple days ago, I decided to embrace my fear instead of pushing it away. Let me…

When I introduce myself, I always say: “I’m Matt, and I have Friedreich’s ataxia.” It’s not just a fact; it’s a part of the story that’s shaped me. Part of me can’t stand thinking that a progressive disease dictates my life. That part of me refuses to let it…

I tend to find messages of hope and resilience in bleak stories. Take, for instance, my column about finding hope in the objectively depressing movie “Requiem for a Dream.” Similarly, another unlikely source of inspiration comes from Franz Kafka’s short story “The Metamorphosis.” Last week, when life…

I recently saw a short YouTube video extolling the importance of accepting that life is bittersweet. In this acceptance, we can become content. If you’ve been reading my columns, you’ve heard me say that I’m happy. I’ve been careful to say that I’m happy overall, not happy every moment.

Life isn’t easy for anyone. Every person must trudge through hardship and struggles. Whether it’s a temporary sadness like illness or injury, seasonal hardships like a breakup or career setbacks, or even battling a life-long progressive illness such as Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), we all have to cope with unpleasant…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Skyclarys (omaveloxolone). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. The holiday season is upon us. For many, it’s a time to gather with friends and family we don’t see that…

I was 10 years old when I heard the crack of wood on wood that sent my croquet ball flying off into a cornfield. I turned to see my grandfather’s face flash a “gotcha” grin. He’d hit my ball with his, and instead of taking two extra turns, he’d decided…

Have you ever found yourself in a rut? That can happen in most areas of life, such as cooking the same rotation of meals, rewatching your favorite movie or TV show, wearing the same outfits, and so on. Most of us are creatures of comfort, meaning we know what we…

In my journey with progressive Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), I battle a wide array of symptoms. While increasingly poor balance seems to be my most disruptive and frustrating symptom, it’s not the one that keeps me up at night. That would be peripheral neuropathy and the resulting nerve pain and…

“This is your life, are you who you want to be?” the band Switchfoot crooned from my speaker as I put on a random morning playlist last week. Even though I’d heard this song, “This Is Your Life,” hundreds of times, thoughts of identity and destiny clouded my mind anew,…

A couple weeks ago, I wrote that I was planting bulbs in my garden. I’m still doing that because I always buy too many. They’re just too beautiful for me to pass up! OK, I could pass them up, but I indulge myself. Every fall, I feel overwhelmed. But as…