The Full Story with Sam!
Introducing Sam Coleman author of For His Heartbeat, a Drumline!
Sam is my brother! He has been on a journey to live an adventurous life for the past year and is exploring new places and learning lots of new things. He started writing a book all the way back when he was in high school and has spent almost ten years making it something he felt ready to publish. It is a story about overcoming a mental health diagnosis, exploring who you are when life gets difficult, and letting the people around you love you for who you are even when you don’t feel lovable. I’ve already read the book, really enjoyed it, and strongly recommend it! If you’re looking for a great new read from an up and coming author, check out For His Heartbeat, a Drumline!
What is your name & who are you?
Hi! I’m Sam and I use he/him pronouns. I studied Finance and Entrepreneurship at Saint Louis University for my undergraduate degree which led me to being a product consultant for Fortune 500 companies for the first couple of years after I graduated. Last summer, I decided to leave the corporate life and move to Aspen, CO. Over the winter, I worked for Aspen Ski Resort, but for the summer I’m working as an outdoor guide. I love to camp, hike, raft, snowboard, and write in my free time!
What is an amazing meal you've enjoyed recently?
I just had a noodle dish… that I can't remember the name of… in a random Thai restaurant in my town! It was amazing.
How would you describe your relationship with food? How has it changed over time?
I adore food in all its facets—I've always loved great tasting food, and I'm also very passionate about how food nourishes me, helps me achieve my goals, and makes me feel good. That's not to say I'm a health nut or a diet warrior - ice cream and cookies make me feel good! I can also tell that I’m going to feel like crap if I don't give my body enough quantity + enough variety of food throughout the day.
The main thing that's changed with me is that a few years ago, I shifted my diet to eating as a vegetarian. I’ve liked this way of eating because I feel like I’m being a steward to the world around me and feel more aligned with my ethics around being kind to the planet.
What's in your pantry that you're excited about right now?
I want to finally make my own Seitan! The ingredients are in my pantry, but I haven't used them yet!
What are your signs that you are living life "fully"?
I feel like I'm living fully when I'm excited to live my everyday life!
When I worked in corporate America, I would measure how great my life was by how often I could leave it or change it. I'd say, "This life is worth it because I'll get to travel this year!" or, "Look at this new thing I can buy because of my salary - it'll fix my boredom!"
I realized that I was only excited about escaping my life, but I wasn't actually happy with it. I also realized that I only tolerated my job because of some far-off, unpromised benefit. "Oh, if I stay in this job for 10 years, I bet I'll be rich!" Okay, but what does my life look like before that? What happens if I get laid off or stiffed on a promotion, or I have to take time off work, and that never happens?
I feel happiest when my life is simply lived, and my current situation is enough to make me grateful.
What are your favorite ways to celebrate big or small wins?
Spend time with people! I am hopelessly extroverted and prize my relationships above anything else. My favorite thing to do is get a small or large group of people I love together!
What would you go back to tell younger you when they struggled with their body, movement, or food?
I'd tell my high school self that health and fitness are not competitions! Being ripped doesn't matter as much as I thought it did, and running a 5-minute mile isn't as important as I thought it was. What's most important is loving and being confident in yourself. That also goes for food! It's more important to be happy eating delicious food than limiting yourself to only the "healthiest" food.
How do you show up for yourself?
By being true to myself! I try to spend my day being kind to myself and honest about how I'm feeling and what I need. I have a lot of therapeutic exercises I love to use, but my main one is writing. Anytime I need to work through something, I open up a fresh document and type until I figure it out!
What's something that you really love about your life right now?
Well, speaking of writing, I had a dream a long, long time ago that I'd be an author, and I just self-published my first book last month! It's called For His Heartbeat, a Drumline and it's about a young man finding himself again after a severe mental health diagnosis throws a wrench in his life. I loved writing it, and I love hearing people's reactions to it even more!
What's your personal definition of "The Full Life"?
A life in which I am excited about where I am and what I'm doing - my happiness doesn't hinge on getting to the next "rung on the ladder," and I'm not praying for my next vacation or break. I'm living fully when I can honestly say I'm excited to live the life I've created.
What else, if anything, would you like to share with the readers of The Full Life?
My book is listed exclusively on Amazon right now! The title is For His Heartbeat, a Drumline and here's a short synopsis:
In the wake of a schizophrenia diagnosis, 24-year-old Reese Findley loses everything–his job, apartment, friends, and independence. His new life revolves around intense parental supervision, therapy, and the gut-wrenching reality that no one seems to understand or tolerate his illness. Tensions explode when his neighbor is mysteriously found dead and Reese lacks an alibi. He gains unlikely allies in the investigation, but struggles to rise above the fear that he may be the monster everyone believes him to be. What ensues is a sobering and jaw-dropping testament to finding beauty in the face of prejudice.
Here's the link to check it out! Follow me on Instagram @samcoleman99 if you want to follow my journey and get literary updates!
Thank you so much, Sam! This was such an amazing project and it’s so cool that it is officially out in the world for people to see. This story was full of heart and I hope it will help people struggling feel more seen + for the loved ones of those who are struggling to feel more understanding. I appreciate you sharing your own Full Story with us!
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