No Good Excuse – a Column by Sean Baumstark

June 18, 2019June 17, 2019

Excuses Keep Us from Doing the Right Thing

Columns, No Good Excuse - a Column by Sean Baumstark

Some months ago, I went looking for a new apartment for my friend and me to rent together. Since I’m pickier than he is, we settled on a price ... Read more

June 11, 2019June 7, 2019

Reassessing Is Often Better than Surrendering

Columns, No Good Excuse - a Column by Sean Baumstark

We are just about halfway through 2019. I think this is a great time to evaluate my habits, my routines, and especially my goals. I usually start every calendar ... Read more

June 4, 2019May 31, 2019

Missing Targets with FA: I Don’t Allow Failure to Derail My Life

Columns, No Good Excuse - a Column by Sean Baumstark

Have you ever done something from which you thought you couldn’t turn back or move forward? Have you made a huge mistake that you believed had irrevocably messed up ... Read more

May 28, 2019May 24, 2019

As a Patient, My Contributions to Research Are Important

Columns, No Good Excuse - a Column by Sean Baumstark

I recently visited my neurologist and FA clinical team at UCLA. I am participating in a clinical trial, and UCLA is my nearest study site. Oftentimes, clinical trials are ... Read more

May 21, 2019May 20, 2019

My Planning Approach Allows Me to Prioritize My Health Needs

Columns, No Good Excuse - a Column by Sean Baumstark

I was sitting on a plane yesterday thinking about some of my deadlines when I recognized that I was feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. While I wasn’t frustrated and my ... Read more

May 7, 2019May 3, 2019

I Need the Support of Others Now More Than Ever

Columns, No Good Excuse - a Column by Sean Baumstark

Others. Community. Support. Help. Cheerleaders. These are the words that have been flooding my thoughts over the last couple of weeks. If you consider my writings, the podcast that ... Read more

April 30, 2019April 26, 2019

The Balancing Act of Health and Limitations

Columns, No Good Excuse - a Column by Sean Baumstark

I love productivity. I have a strong disdain for being passive, or slow to move. If something needs to be done, I like to get after it quickly. There ... Read more

April 23, 2019April 22, 2019

Learning to Be Satisfied with Our Reasons

Columns, No Good Excuse - a Column by Sean Baumstark

I met up with my best friend for lunch last week, and he noticed I was in a bit of a funk. I could feel I was a little ... Read more

April 16, 2019April 15, 2019

Accountability Can Change Everything

Columns, No Good Excuse - a Column by Sean Baumstark

I want to give credit to this column, and the writing habit I have developed because of it, for some of the recent improvements in my personal performance. Writing ... Read more

April 9, 2019April 8, 2019

It Starts with Responsibility

Columns, No Good Excuse - a Column by Sean Baumstark

Recently, a topic of conversation on the podcast I co-host, “Two Disabled Dudes,” revolved around this column and the idea of excuses versus reasons. My co-host, Kyle Bryant, and ... Read more

April 2, 2019June 3, 2019

Why I Don’t Wait for the Right Time Anymore

Columns, No Good Excuse - a Column by Sean Baumstark

Is there ever a “right” time? I’d argue that this idea is mentally comforting, but the “right time” doesn’t exist. You can wait all you want, but that’s where ... Read more

March 19, 2019March 18, 2019

Introducing ‘No Good Excuse,’ a New Friedreich’s Ataxia Column

Columns, No Good Excuse - a Column by Sean Baumstark

I’m convinced that we all think we’re unique in the following regard: Something about who we are, or our circumstances, excuses us from being better or from being the best ... Read more