Chess anyone? Check out the Mechanics' Institute! January 8, 2026

Mentioned in this episode:

• Mechanics' Institute at 47 Post Street. Library, Chess club, and cultural events for the intellectually curious are all reasons to buy an annual membership to this club.

Transcript

Jamie Whitaker: 0:03

Bonjour, this is Jamie. You're listening to the To Do San Francisco podcast for Thursday, January 8, 2026. My goal for this podcast is to share some ideas for things to do in San Francisco and offer some positive encouragement for a couple of minutes every weekday. Do you have some new year goals? Maybe something you have decided to do more of in 2026? or perhaps something you have decided to do less? Some general advice I find helpful is number one, make the goal smaller than you think it should be. Second, focus on behavior, not outcomes. New behaviors require consistency. Third, attach the habit to something you already do. Remember, no day is perfect, and you have a fresh start tomorrow. Make your goals smaller, kinder, and easier to return to, and you'll be amazed how far that carries you by the end of the year. Today's act of kindness: Remember to add the words "please" and "thank you" to your interactions, whether it be in person or electronic communications or texting. Civility is all about repeatable choices that signal respect for others. Have you ever visited the Mechanics' Institute on Post Street? They have a very active chess club with well attended Tuesday evening tournaments. There's also the library and a full calendar of cultural events including author readings, film viewings, and other events for the intellectually curious. It is a members club, but fairly reasonably priced at $150 for an individual, $225 for a family, and $80 for a full time student thirty five years of age and younger for one year of access or membership to the Mechanics' Institute. Learn more at the Mechanics' Institute's website www.milibrary.org. The beginning of a new year can feel surprisingly heavy, especially when everything around you is telling you to feel hopeful. It's okay if all you're doing right now is getting through the day. That still counts. The weekend is near. Thanks for listening.