Your New Year’s Resolution: Make Life in France a Reality

It’s the last day of 2025. I’m not unhappy to say so-long to this year—it’s been a personal challenge involving health issues, property issues, and political issues. But, “the past has no reality except as a thought happening now,” according to my guru, Eckhart Tolle. “Therefore, when you ‘look back at the past,’ you are actually looking at a story your mind is telling now. The problem is not the past. The problem is psychological attachment to the past.”

I agree with him and make a point of living in the present moment, so looking back at 2025 is just a series of stories in my mind’s eye now. What life is about is what we’re experiencing right this very moment. For you, it’s what you’re reading and for me it’s what I’m writing.

So, what does 2026 hold in store for us?

What Eckhart Tolle would say about the future is in the same spirit as his teachings about the past. The future does not exist—except as a thought in the present moment. It only appears as anticipation, hope, fear, planning, fantasy and worry. So when we think about the future, we are not actually in the future. We are imagining the future…but now.

This is a concept I warn all of our clients about—as I hear the words they use such as “concern,” or “worry,” “fear,” etc. all related to their potential move to France. Remember what President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) during his first inaugural address on March 4, 1933, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” to calm a nation paralyzed by the Great Depression, meaning that panic and dread were the biggest barriers to recovery, not the actual economic problems.

These words meant so much to me that for many years, a photo of the monument was plastered on the wall above my desk, so that I gazed at it every single day. And then later, thanks to Tolle, I learned how to never fear anything. It has been a very powerful lesson that I hope everyone can learn and benefit from, especially if you’re about to venture into unknown territory—France, for example!

When I made plans to travel to Israel over the holidays, I heard words of caution, as one might imagine. The images in their heads inspired by the press of the war that began more than two years ago created a level of fear, that I didn’t have, knowing the truth: a U.S.-brokered ceasefire has been in place since October 10, 2025, following a multi-phase peace plan agreed between Israel and Hamas. However, the truce is fragile and periodically violated by both sides, with explosions and clashes still occurring.

That’s not much different than when I was living in Israel years earlier as this conflict has gone on for thousands of years! There have been periods of peace, but mostly the country lives in constant fear of attack. Tel Aviv itself is relatively safe in everyday terms, however, with low violent crime like many major global cities. But, because of the ongoing regional conflict and occasional security incidents, authorities recommend vigilance and preparedness for rare but high-impact events.

Okay, fair enough. I promised my daughter that I wouldn’t go to Gaza. I don’t believe she needs to worry about that. Like a candle, I know if I stick my finger in the flame, I will get burned. That’s why I don’t fear the fire.

The point is to make your New Year’s Resolutions without fear or trepidation. If you’ve wanted to move to France for years, but never had the courage, now is the time to let go of the fear and make it happen. Take the words “concern” and “worry” out of your vocabulary. And while you’re at it, remove the word “expectation” from it, too. Replace it with “hope” and you will never be disappointed. We find that those who have the hardest time crossing the cultural divide also have the most expectations, realistic or not.

Then look towards the future with plans based on the knowledge that you won’t get burned because you won’t stick your finger in the flame. You’re going to take one step at a time, employ the people who will help you through the process and just make it happen. It’s actually pretty simple.

Step One: Make an appointment to speak with one of us. We’ll put you on the right path, and provide all the resources you need to make your dream to live in France come true.

Step Two: Do it!

It’s actually that simple. And this could and maybe should be your New Year’s Resolution.

Your Journey Starts Here!

Happy New Year!

A la prochaine…