🌅 First Day of 2026: Taxes, Hiking, and Financial Freedom

Wishing everyone a Happy 2026! 🎉

How did you spend your first day of the new year?

Mine started with something practical: paying off my salary tax.

Then I hiked up to The Peak, trying to soak in some fresh air before the start of a new year and a new sales quarter.

As I walked uphill, my mind drifted to finances.

In about 3 years, I expect to reach what I call basic financial freedom:

My monthly stock dividends will cover all my essential expenses, including rent.

💰 But it won’t fund a luxury lifestyle

(No nonstop travel or a bigger apartment than now)

That thought reminded me of a financial freedom quote I read 8 years ago:

“The number of years spent working must not exceed the number of years spent studying.”

By the time I hit that milestone, I’ll have worked for about 13 years.

And I can’t help but wonder:

- Is 13 years too long a run just to reach basic freedom?

- What comes next once I finally get there?

For now, I keep running my sales wheel, but with each step I’m building toward choice, stability, and the next chapter beyond.

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