Wow, we survived 2011. Too bad at least one person is not too jazzed about 2012. An uplifting start does not seem to be in the cards. I ache to listen to Sam Cooke’s 1964 single, “A Change is Gonna Come.”

Change is good — and many times necessary. On Saturday night, countless people raised a glass a few minutes before midnight declaring their biggest changes of all. The New Year has that effect on people. The calendar changes to 1-1 and all is new again.

New Year’s resolutions are wonderful — to give up for Lent. The topics are usually the same — more diet, more exercise, giving up the drink or the cigars. And they usually last until the BCS championship game when most of the aforementioned are ditched with promises of a one-day reprieve.

How many resolve to do something good for the new year, then resolve the same again next December?

I’d love to resolve to lose a chin or two, exercise more and ditch the beer, but that would be like admitting defeat before the year is one-day-old. Have you seen the college football schedule for Monday? Resolutions 1, 2 and 3 are ruined and the NFL playoffs have yet to start.

I will resolve to not let the happenings in Washington, D.C., affect my day-to-day activities. This election year — and each subsequent one — will begin earlier and last longer. In our world of 24-hour media, presidential elections are the most draining. Campaigning has become a two-year sport and, I can almost guarantee this, that minutes after a president is elected or re-elected in November, talk of the race for 2016 will ensue.

As part of the anti-D.C. resolve, I will resolve to ditch the 24-hour news cycles.

I resolve to give up lettuce, carrots and onions.

I resolve to keep the dog fed and happy.

I resolve to show my disdain for the State of Mississippi politicians and illegally brew beer every other weekend. I resolve to then drink said illegal beer.

I resolve to put my dreams of being a motivational speaker at bay in hopes that by 2013 I can reach back to “Mr. Soul” Sam Cooke and proudly — and motivationally — sing that 1964 gem.

‘It’s been a long, a long time coming

‘But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will.’

Here’s to 2013 — and many more days of Sam Cooke.

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Sean P. Murphy is web editor. He can be reached at smurphy@vicksburgpost.com