Some might feel smug that they continue to enjoy a career in the top flight while the club that deemed them not good enough has endured an astonishing fall from grace, but the Inverness Caledonian Thistle midfielder bears no grudge against Rangers and has nothing but sympathy for his friends who remain on the books there.
Shinnie was delighted when his former and current teams were paired together in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Communities League Cup, as the tie affords him an opportunity to return to Ibrox, which he would otherwise have been denied this season.
The match will see the 23-year-old lock horns with Ross Perry, his good pal and one-time flatmate, who he went on holiday with as recently as last summer. Perry has had to endure a fiery baptism as an established Rangers first-team player in the Third Division this season but the Aberdonian feels the defender has what it takes to emerge stronger from the experience.
Shinnie said. "All through the years when I was at Rangers we were close mates and it has carried on. I have never come up against him on the park before, but it looks like we'll both be playing [in the cup tie] so it will be a weird experience.
"Rangers are such a big club and if you can't take criticism you are not going to play for them. The fans have turned out in absolutely unbelievable numbers, but I think they expect to win every single game and I knew that wasn't going to happen. Ross has been given his chance, but he is playing alongside a lot of new players, so that can obviously be difficult. I am sure he will take the criticism on board, keep working away and turn into a top centre-half."
Shinnie, who scored on his return to Govan last December as Inverness lost 2-1, reflected: "Maybe [administration and liquidation at Rangers] would have been good for me if I had stayed because I might have got a chance, but I am not bitter at all about leaving. I am delighted with the way my career has gone.
"Rangers weren't going to offer me a new contract, but I had already had a chat with my dad and we had pretty much come to the conclusion it was time to move on anyway because I wasn't getting very many games.
"I was disappointed with the way things developed in the summer when Rangers went out of the SPL, because it is always good to go back there. But then the cup game came up so I am looking forward to returning.
"Rangers were given the underdog tag for the Motherwell game [in the previous round] which was a bit harsh because they are still a top side with some top SPL players. I am sure they will want to make another point to their fans, but we will be confident."
The name Shinnie, of course, will appear twice on the Inverness team sheet, with left-back Graeme, 21, also part of Terry Butcher's side. The duo share a flat and the older Shinnie said: "It can't be a bad thing to have your brother in the team, although it is pretty surreal,.
"I would never have imagined it happening when I was down in Glasgow. We get on great. My mum and dad live in Aberdeen, so it is good for them too – and they don't have to pick and choose whose game to go to any more.
"We both got picked up quite late, but Graeme has done brilliantly since becoming a professional and is coming on in leaps and bounds. I am proud that he has done so well and proud we are both doing a job we love. Graeme used to get put in goal when he was younger, although he was really good, to be fair."
Inverness have had a great season so far after being identified by many as relegation candidates and their form has seen manager Terry Butcher linked this week with the vacancy at his old club, Ipswich Town. Shinnie would hate to see Butcher leave and hopes it won't come to that. "Of course there will be rumours because they love him down there and we have been doing so well," he said.
"But I think the gaffer would stay because he is building a good side and he loves it here. I don't know what would happen if they did come calling, but it would be a massive blow if he left."
Shinnie enjoyed the hustle and bustle of life in Glasgow, perhaps too much. There is something in the quiet atmosphere and environment in Inverness which is bringing the best out of the player, who has seven goals already this season.
Shinnie is out of contract in the summer, but Butcher has indicated he will start talking to him about a contact extension sooner rather than later.
"If Caley wanted to offer me a new deal I would obviously be delighted," Shinnie said. "It would be a win-win situation to have options because I have never really had that in my career."
