As we kick off the new year, I took a look back at my first column of 2025 in which I attempted to set a few goals – both personally and professionally – to carry me through the last 365 days.

The bad news…I still have the same headshot photo this column has featured for probably the last 15 years. There were discussions to get something updated, but various schedule conflicts and other things came about and it quickly was forgotten.

More people have commented on the continued use of the old photograph, especially since I’ve had my increasingly graying beard to accompany the already fairly gray hair, as well as owing to the fact the same photo continues to be used as my media identification.

So, I guess that’s going back on the list of goals for 2026.

I have begun teaching myself some video editing techniques, both for work and fun, but I know there are still aspects to learn. I downloaded a free program a couple of months back, and, if you’ve paid attention to our website – www.weirtondailytimes.com – you’ve probably noticed a few videos popping up from time to time.

It’s something I’m planning to do more of in the year ahead as we continue efforts to enhance our online product.

We’ve had an online presence, in one way or another, for a little more than 20 years now, but there still are people who don’t think about it as part of our news coverage. If you already have a subscription to our print edition, you also have full access to the website. If you only want the digital option to read local news, that’s available as well.

Incorporating video into some of our reports is something we can do to enhance our existing work, and, hopefully, our readership appreciates it.

I did attempt to visit a few “new-to-me” places in the last year.

Through the West Virginia Press Association’s annual conference, I spent a day on the campus of the University of Charleston in October while listening to the thoughts of some of my industry peers and becoming better acquainted with various Ogden Newspapers employees in other parts of the state.

Through a day trip with the family, I was able to spend a little bit of time at Tygart Lake State Park,and began a journey to visit the Almost Heaven swings now dotting the Mountain State’s landscape.

I would have liked to have done more, but a few unexpected events came up this year which provided both opportunity and obstacles.

And now, as we look forward, you may ask what the year’s hopes involve.

Well, once again, I hope to get that new photo so you can all stop worrying that I’m trying to pass myself off as a youthful 30.

I’ll continue to work on my video editing abilities, both for work and those possible personal projects.

Continued travel also is on the list. There are still eight state parks for me to visit as part of my initial Very Important Parks Person card which I acquired almost 10 years ago. It’s about time to wrap that up if at all possible, and start on card number two.

I did manage to sneak some time for myself to read a little bit. I have made it a tradition each Halloween to read “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” but I also managed in one of Brad Meltzer’s early works this fall and there’s a stack of his other books waiting for me at home, along with a few selections from other authors.

The big thing, though, is making more of an effort in my personal relationships. I don’t do a great job of keeping in touch with people, probably because of the overwhelming nature of social media which tricks us into feeling as if we know everything about the people in our lives. I’m basically a homebody when I’m not working, but there is a need to make time to actually go out into society as well, maintaining those connections, or even just reaching out with a text or phone call.

It may all seem like some minor things, but it all takes effort or they will slip on by just like the passage of time.

So, here’s to the new year and the hope of accomplishing some, if not all, of our goals.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)