Imagine this.
I’ve won the lottery. My debts are gone, my friends and family are taken care of, and I never have to work another day in my life unless I choose to.
So the question becomes: now what?
What would I do with my time, my energy, my heart, and my talents? Would I volunteer? Travel? Sit on a beach sipping chai lattes with almond milk all day? (Okay, maybe for a week or two.) But then what?
The Truth About “Having It All”
It sounds like freedom, and it is, but without purpose, freedom can become its own kind of prison.
I know myself well enough to recognize that I’d go crazy doing nothing. My body would start to ache from inactivity. My mind would wander into weird corners. My spirit would grow restless.
We’re not built to just exist. We’re built to create, connect, and contribute.
And it’s not just a spiritual thing, it’s biological. Science has proven that staying mentally active is essential for long-term health and happiness:
- Harvard Medical School found that regular physical and mental activity boosts memory and thinking skills.
- The CDC shows that consistent movement reduces the risk of cognitive decline and supports emotional balance.
- LCMC Health notes that mental fitness, the ability to adapt, learn, and cope, leads to stronger psychological resilience.
In short: if you don’t use your brain and your heart, you lose them.
So What Would I Do With My Life?
If money were no longer a concern, I wouldn’t retire; again, I’d re-fire.
Here’s how I’d use this gift of freedom.
1. I’d Travel the World with Purpose
I’d pack my journal, my laptop, and my curiosity, and set off to explore the world. Not as a tourist, but as a student of humanity.
I want to experience cultures, not just photograph them.
I’d sit in men’s circles in Africa, share stories with monks in Thailand, and walk barefoot through the temples of India.
Everywhere I go, I’d listen. I’d ask men about their struggles, their dreams, their fears.
What pressures do they face? What holds them back? What awakens their courage?
Then I’d write about it, weaving those insights into books, talks, and maybe even documentaries that inspire other men to live from their hearts.
2. I’d Keep Doing Men’s Work
Even with all the money in the world, I’d still be drawn to the same mission: helping men wake up, rise up, and reconnect with purpose.
I’d host retreats in exotic places like Costa Rica, New Zealand, and Bali where men could unplug from their chaos and reconnect to who they truly are.
I’d love to blend the Shin Dao philosophy with local wisdom traditions. Imagine a retreat where a Hawaiian kahuna, a Japanese sensei, and a Canadian coach walk into a jungle (sounds like the start of a joke, right?) and lead a heart-based warrior initiation together.
That’s the kind of magic I’d live for.
3. I’d Write. A Lot.
Writing is how I breathe.
I’d turn my travels into stories, maybe under my name L. Neil Thrussell, or maybe as Nathaniel Theos, my pen name for the deeper, more reflective stuff.
I’d write books that blend adventure with meaning, courage with compassion.
I’d share what I see, what I feel, what I learn about the human heart in all its forms.
And I’d do it all with the intention of awakening something in others, a spark, a realization, a reminder that life is sacred, messy, and magnificently short.
4. I’d Move My Body and Stay Connected to the Earth
Even in this fantasy life, I’d still start my mornings the same way: move, breathe, pray, connect.
Maybe I’d bike through the Swiss Alps, practice Hapkido on a Balinese beach, or hike sacred mountains in Peru.
Movement is meditation for me. It keeps my mind quiet and my spirit grounded.
And as I move, I’d find ways to give back, planting trees, joining conservation projects, or supporting communities working to heal the planet.
5. I’d Volunteer and Teach
I can’t imagine a life that doesn’t include giving.
Maybe I’d create a global network for men’s mental health. Maybe I’d fund leadership programs for young men who never had a mentor.
I’d love to visit communities around the world, teaching about emotional strength, self-respect, and the power of vulnerability.
If I can help one man become a better father, husband, or brother, that’s a win. If I can help thousands, that’s legacy.
The New Rhythm of Life
Here’s how I picture it:
Mornings – Meditation, movement, journaling.
Days – Writing, connecting, facilitating, exploring.
Evenings – Sharing stories, breaking bread, reflecting under foreign stars.
Every few months, I’d change countries.
Every year, I’d publish a new book or film.
Every day, I’d look for one way to bring light into the world.
The Warrior’s Truth
Winning the lottery wouldn’t change who I am, it would just remove the noise.
It would let me live my mission more boldly, more globally, and more freely.
Because the truth is, money doesn’t buy meaning, it amplifies it.
I’d still be the same man: a Spiritual Warrior, a storyteller, a facilitator, a lover of chai and adventure.
I’d still follow the Shin Dao, develop my body, inspire my mind, open my heart, elevate my spirit.
And I’d still live by my motto:
Get off the couch. Get in the game.
Because the world doesn’t need another man on vacation.
It needs more men on mission.
Your Turn
If your financial worries disappeared tomorrow, what would you do?
Where would your heart lead you?
How would you use your freedom, your time, and your talents to serve something greater than yourself?
Take a moment, right now, to imagine that world.
Then write it down. Speak it out loud.
Because when you give your dreams a voice, you start bringing them to life.
You don’t need to win the lottery to start living with purpose.
You just need to say yes to your calling today.