ECWS: The Same Old Resolution – Naomi Pacific

To kick-start the new year the Exeter Creative Writing Society were set the challenge of creating a piece on the theme of “resolutions”. Read on for Naomi Pacific’s emotional interpretation of this task…

 

Photo by Giles Douglas via Flickr.

The Same Old Resolution

 

“But listen to me!”

she exclaimed after him.

He turned around,

and listened some more.

“I didn’t want to fall for you,

I didn’t do any of it-

On purpose,”

 

He stood silently and the waves

Crashed behind them, he still

Felt like walking away.

Her hair blowing in the wind,

Something of pain in her eyes.

Rewind, he thought,

Rewind, to when none of this

Happened, she looked so

Beautiful back then.

 

“I didn’t fall in love with you

On purpose either. And I didn’t

Get mad at you on purpose.

None of it is on purpose,” he

Pointed out to her. She looked at him,

That old face she knew so well,

Thousands of nights spent,

Right at its side, watching it

Breathe in and out, smiling…

And how great the world had been.

 

“Well let’s go back then,

At least be friends, pretend,

That none of this ever happened.”

She suggested. He shook his head,

“But pretending hurts Sammy,

I’d try and forget but you always

Somehow make it back to my thoughts.”

 

And she understood because she felt

The same. And he walked away because,

He didn’t know what else to do.

 

The waves kept on crashing, the cycle of life,

Never-ending.

By Naomi Pacific
Ed. by Georgina Holland – Exeposé Online Books Editor

New Year, New You: Our definitive guide to New Year Resolution reads

January: a month of Christmas-food cramps and severely bloated overdrafts, but do not fear Exeposé Books is here to guide you into the New Year. We have searched high and wide to bring you the low-down on the best self-help books on the market so that you can change that half-hearted resolution into a total lifestyle overhaul. Whether you want to lose those extra pounds, finally quit smoking, or maybe even just make 2013 a more spontaneous or focused year, we’ve got the guides that will help you to read your way to reaching your resolution…

 

This year I want to…lose weight

Perhaps one of the most common New Year resolutions is the pledge to shed that excess-Christmas weight. But don’t shell out for an expensive New Year gym package just yet, as scientists now say that losing weight isn’t all about pumping pounds. Diet experts such as Jenaé Frick, personal trainor and yoga instructor with abs that you could crack a nut on, lives by the mantra that losing weight is 70% diet and 30% gym* – great news for foodies everywhere! So this year why not invest in a decent diet cookbook that will help you to lose weight without using scary fad methods such as the juice, soup, or (bizarrely) lemonade diet. The Hairy Dieters cookbook is packed full of healthy, wholesome recipes that will keep you fuller for longer and say “stuff you” to skinny-girl micro portions. From pies to curries, the bikers managed to shed the pounds whilst still eating proper hearty meals. The secret? Cutting down on excess fatty ingredients makes a world of difference.

And for all those sweaty Betties out there who are fanatical about fitness, Tracy Anderson will help you to pump, tone, lift, and tighten your body with her 30-Day Method. With an impressive history of sculpting the bodies of the likes of Madonna, Shakira, and Gwyeth Paltrow, you will be safe in the hands of this celebrity personal trainer. Anderson aims to get you “red-carpet ready” by focusing on unique muscle groups and targeting problem areas. Use this book as your New Year Bible and you will see the results, fast!

 

This year I want to…quit smoking

Smokers, you can breathe a sigh of relief as we have chosen Paul McKenna’s Quit Smoking Today as the ultimate read to help you kick the habit, once and for all. McKenna became famous with his unique approach to weight-loss methods. In 2007, he turned his attention to ciggies and has helped millions to quit through a blend of tips, techniques, and a hypnosis CD in order to “programme the body and mind”. Sound a bit daunting? You just need to read the Amazon reviews to see that ex-smokers rave about his methods. If you are serious about quitting, Mckenna guarantees to help you with his renowned “conditioning system”. The bonus? He claims to do it all without you gaining any weight!

This year I want to…work harder

If 2013 is the year in which you need to startseriously knuckling down, look no further than the Palgrave Study Skills series. I’ve raved about it before, and I will rave about it again, Lauren Lucien’s University Life: Making it Work For You is packed full of useful advice which will help you to find focus this New Year. From revision techniques, to job application advice, Lucien’s friendly tone and real-life examples guides you through your time at university from Freshers week to graduation and beyond.

Hoping for success in your studies this year? Perhaps you have an all-important essay coming up or are cramming for those January exams? Michael Tefula’s How to Get a First: Insights and Advice from a First-class Graduate is a go-to guide for achieving top marks and getting that all-important first-class degree honour. Although it can’t make any promises, this is certainly a motivational read which will leave you revved up with renewed enthusiasm and focus.

 

This year I want to…be more spontaneous

A New Year can provide the perfect opportunity for renewed spontaneity, what better promise to make to oneself than the promise to jump at any chance, and accept any opening. If you are a fan of travelling then we suggest investing in a copy of Patricia Schultz’s 1000 Places to See Before You Die. Feeling brave? Open the book on any random page and commit to going there within the year – it might seem outlandish at first but even being open to the idea of jetsetting around the world on a whim might unleash a more spontaneous mindset.  To help you on the way, the guide is painstakingly researched to bring you the best travel-tips from route guidance to choosing a restaurant. For a less adventurous (and expensive) alternative, simply flicking through Schultz’s evocative descriptions of her most astonishing global destinations is sure to inspire a desire to see the world in the future.

 

By Georgina Holland – Exeposé Online Books Editor

All featured books can be purchased via Amazon.
*Quote taken from Frick’s blog: http://yogaeatrun.com/home/2012/1/11/diet-diet-diet-exercise.html