Around this time last year, I wrote about how my “real life” in Europe had finally begun after three years of living in France under a foreign student status.
A lot has happened since then.
I crossed several major life milestones: marrying my French partner, whom I’ve shared life with for more than four years; landing a stable job in Belgium; and perhaps most importantly: clearing all my student-related debts and finally visiting my family in Davao, Philippines, for the first time in years. All of these gave me a renewed sense of freedom, stability, and purpose.
I was also able to give back, in small but meaningful ways, to the people who helped me make my move to France possible. Along the way, I set new personal and professional goals: ones that felt ambitious, but achievable.
Today, I want to revisit those goals and honestly assess how I’ve progressed. This reflection is also my way of clearing space for planning and setting intentions for 2026. I’m very much a YOLO (You Only Live Once) kind of person, and I don’t want time to slip by without truly living it.
2025 Goals Review
- Learn how to drive. Unfortunately, this is one area where I made little progress. I did attempt to study the Code de la Route using books and apps, but I never took the exam. This is something I’ll need to tackle seriously in 2026.
- Consider starting a business venture. This goal stayed on the back burner. I’m still unclear about how to start a business in France and, more importantly, what the tax implications would be. Given France’s reputation for complex bureaucracy, I decided to pause and gather more clarity before moving forward.
- Save for the future. Saving cash didn’t go as planned this year. That said, I made some significant investments instead, just not in the traditional “money in the bank” sense.
- Buy property. This was a big one. My partner and I invested in a garage in France, which has the potential to be converted into a house in the future. On top of that, I bought a piece of land and started building a home for my family in the Philippines. These feel like major long-term safety nets and give me peace of mind.
- International travel. My original goal was to step foot on new continents, but this didn’t materialise. Changing priorities and large financial commitments meant travel had to take a back seat this year.
At first glance, it might seem like I “failed” many of the goals I set last year. But looking closer, I’m ending the year in a much stronger place financially: something I struggled with during my three years as a student. And that, in itself, feels like a huge win.
Looking Ahead: 2026 Goals
Interestingly, my goals for 2026 don’t look all that different from last year’s—but this time, they feel more grounded.
- Complete a marathon. I have already ran 7 full marathons in the past and 2 ultra-marathons = 9 marathons. I feel it’s time for the 10th marathon—before I hit 40 years old!
- Learn how to drive. Take and pass the Code de la Route exam and get proper, hands-on driving training. Not just theory this time.
- Save for the future. Build an emergency fund, starting with small, manageable steps. This is about reducing financial anxiety and protecting myself against unexpected shocks.
- Finish the house. Complete the construction of my family home in the Philippines—something I’m deeply invested in, both emotionally and financially.
- International travel. While not my top priority, I’d still love to visit a few new countries and, if possible, finally set foot in Africa or the Americas for the first time.
If there’s one thing this year taught me, it’s that progress doesn’t always look the way you expect it to. Sometimes, it’s quieter. Sometimes, it’s slower. But it’s still progress—and I’m learning to give myself credit for that.
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