L. Neil Thrussellan invitation to live more deeply, honestly, and courageously—starting today.
The Question That Changes Everything
What if you were told you had just one year left to live?
Not in panic.
Not in tragedy.
But as a soft whisper from Spirit… a soul-stirring invitation to awaken.
And here’s the catch:
You must live within your current financial means.
No sudden windfalls.
No “bucket list” extravaganzas.
Just your life. Your reality. As it stands now.
So the real question becomes:
How would you choose to live—really live—if your time was short, but your resources remained the same?
Begin with the Heart: The Conversations That Matter
Before creating a to-do list, you’d likely begin with some deep conversations…
First, with yourself:
- What have I been tolerating that drains my soul?
- Where have I gone silent out of fear?
- What truths have I buried?
- What passions have I postponed?
Then, with the people who matter most:
- “I love you. And here’s why.”
- “I forgive you. And I forgive myself.”
- “I’m sorry I never said this before…”
No more waiting.
No more assuming.
Just truth, spoken from the heart.
Living Within Your Means, Expanding Beyond Your Limits
This isn’t about scarcity.
It’s about sacred simplicity.
If I had a year left, I wouldn’t need a passport stamp or five-star resort.
I’d need time—real, unfiltered time.
- Quiet mornings with coffee and a sunrise.
- Bike rides that lead to nowhere but joy.
- Hugs that linger.
- Laughter in the kitchen.
- Potlucks, fire pits, and stories shared under the stars.
Abundance, it turns out, is already here.
You just have to notice it.
Through the Lens of the Shin Dao
The Shin Dao Philosophy gives us a powerful compass.
If you’re going to live like time is precious… which of the Six Pillars and Twelve Tenets would you fully embrace?
The Six Pillars
- Develop Your Body
Move with love. Walk, stretch, breathe. Honour your body—not to fix it, but to feel it. - Inspire Your Mind
Feed it soulfully. Choose wisdom over noise. Read. Reflect. Create. - Open Your Heart
Let love lead. Let your guard down. Be seen, and truly see others. - Elevate Your Spirit
Pray. Meditate. Breathe in stillness. Return to the sacred daily. - Grow Your Abundance
Not in dollars—but in presence. In moments. In connection. - Embrace Your Warrior Spirit
Show up. Speak truth. Love fiercely. Serve boldly.
The Twelve Tenets
These principles would guide each day like prayers:
✅ Connect with the Earth
✅ Let Go of Your Busy-ness
✅ Celebrate the Present
✅ Seek Meaning to Your Life
✅ Embrace Life, Embrace the Sacred
✅ Love Freely, Love Deeply
✅ You Affect Others
✅ You Never Walk Alone
✅ You Are the Light
✅ Celebrate Life’s Little Joys
✅ Your Body is a Temple
✅ Go in Peace
Would I skip any?
Not one.
But I would stop hustling for abundance, and start living in it.
I’d shift from “inspire your mind” with content overload… to “inspire” through creation and stillness.
What Would You Start Doing?
If your time was short, but your soul was wide open, what would you finally say yes to?
- Writing love letters
- Walking barefoot in the grass
- Singing out loud (badly but joyfully)
- Journaling your truth
- Calling your old mentor or childhood friend
- Creating beauty for beauty’s sake
- Showing up for the people who matter
And what would you stop doing?
- People-pleasing
- Hiding your light
- Scrolling mindlessly
- Saying “yes” when your soul screams “no”
- Waiting for “someday”
What If You Didn’t Wait?
Maybe this isn’t just a thought experiment.
Maybe this is your moment.
You don’t need a diagnosis to wake up.
You don’t need a fortune to live richly.
You don’t need more time—just more presence.
So ask yourself right now:
- Who do I need to forgive?
- What joy have I been postponing?
- What truth am I ready to tell?
- What legacy can I leave behind—starting today?
Let Your Final Year Begin Now
Imagine this year as your final chapter.
Would it be a quiet surrender?
Or a bold, beautiful embrace of what it means to be fully alive?
Let the warrior rise.
Let the lover speak.
Let the child play.
Let the sage reflect.
Let the heart lead.
This is your one wild, sacred life.
So live it—not someday, but now.
With love and fierce presence,
L. Neil Thrussell
Spiritual Warrior | Life Coach | Lover of the Present Moment
