I feel a lot better about New Year’s Day than New Year’s Eve. Maybe it’s because the focus is not as much on dwelling in the past as dreaming about the future. It is a day full of possibilities and hope. A day that embodies the spirit of an Anne Shirley sentiment: “tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it.”

As Patti Smith points out in her memoir, Just Kids, many (her mother included) believe that “what you do on New Year’s Day will foretell what you’ll be doing the rest of the year” (pg. 214).

I like to spend the day on a hike in a beautiful place. One of my favorites is the Moraga Steps in San Francisco.

It’s a secret staircase tucked between 15th and 16th, made entirely of a community-organized mosaic. The mosaic begins in the sea and ends at the sky. At the peak, is a park with a 360 degree view of the city.

Honestly, it’s one of my favorite spots, no matter the time of the year.

What will you do to celebrate New Year’s Day? No matter what, I hope you enjoy.

Happy New Year!