These Tangled Vines Quotes

“And though I tried to let go of certain things and live without regret, I was beginning to accept that regret would always be a part of my life. I was only human, after all, and as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t escape it. What I decided was that I would not let it consume or define me. For the most part, I was at peace with how my life had unfolded, and I would embrace my regret—and my ability to work at forgiveness—as evidence of my humanity. I would wake up each morning and count my blessings.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“Of course I’m going to forgive you. How can I not? Life is rough for everyone, and it’s complicated. It’s full of hairpin turns we don’t see coming. You know that better than anyone. You suffered a terrible trauma. And we all make mistakes. Mom certainly wasn’t perfect. She left a fair bit of destruction in her path.” “Yes, but she gave me you.” “And she gave me you.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“Total forgiveness was not going to be easy. This much I knew. It was going to take some effort, but it was better than the alternative, which would leave me hating my father and resenting him. I couldn’t live like that.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“Anton stood up and crossed the room to sit beside her on the sofa. “I’ve often thought that a marriage is like a covered wagon, full of the stuff of life. The man and the woman are the two workhorses who pull it. Eventually, it gets heavy. There are children in the wagon, a home that needs to be maintained, feelings that need to be protected and nurtured when life throws curveballs. It works when both partners pull together, but the journey can’t continue for long if one partner unbuckles the straps and decides to ride in the wagon, because it’s easier, and because he knows his partner will keep pulling no matter what. Sometimes it can’t be helped. If someone gets sick or is suffering in some other way . . . physically or emotionally or financially . . . when that happens, the other person needs to bear more of the load, but generally, when both partners are capable, husband and wife should be a team, pulling together, or at least taking equal turns.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“Why do we always wait for traditional special occasions to enjoy good things? Maybe we just need to create our own special occasions.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“But isn’t that what life is about? Trying new things? Finding out what you love doing? Then taking a deep dive into it?”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“It’s important to cherish every day, not take anything for granted.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“Total forgiveness was not going to be easy. This much I knew. It was going to take some effort, but it was better than the alternative, which would leave me hating my father and resenting him. I couldn’t live like that. I didn’t want to feel anger in my thoughts for the rest of my life. I wanted to wake up in the morning and feel blissful at the sight of the sunrise. I wanted to feel grateful for the”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“I think all you can do is accept the past for what it was and be thankful for where you are today. Think”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“I would embrace my regret—and my ability to work at forgiveness—as evidence of my humanity. I would wake up each morning and count my blessings.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“Connor and Sloane,” Marco replied. “Connor is the younger one. He’s here on his own. Sloane is here with her two children, but her husband stayed behind in America.” I tried to process this. Connor and Sloane would be my half brother and sister.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“Sloane found herself longing for the happiness she’d known as a child, when life was simple and she felt no pressure to be perfect.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“And though I tried to let go of certain things and live without regret, I was beginning to accept that regret would always be a part of my life. I was only human, after all, and as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t escape it. What I decided was that I would not let it consume or define me.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“My future lay before me, unpredictable like the force and direction of the wind at any given moment. I didn’t want the wind to be destructive. I wanted it to lift me up and carry me, to give me the push I needed to figure out what I was supposed to be doing with my life.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“Life is rough for everyone, and it’s complicated. It’s full of hairpin turns we don’t see coming. You know that better than anyone.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“I say there’s no time like the present. How about we enjoy this bottle, right now.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“She wanted, for the first time, without fear, to let down her guard and experience everything life had to offer. At the same time, that openness came with a noticeably daunting awareness of her own vulnerability.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“Why do we always wait for traditional special occasions to enjoy good things? Maybe we just need to create our own special occasions.” Lillian made a face. “You know, I’ve always objected to Valentine’s Day, because I don’t think a day like that should come only once a year. Every day should be Valentine’s Day. People should say I love you all the time or show their love, even in small ways.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“I think part of the problem is that I’ve always been inclined to put his needs before my own. I have this inherent compulsion to do everything in my power to make sure that he’s happy.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“Sì. Anton used to paint when he was younger.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“impressionist”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“another way. I think she preferred that we weren’t close to Dad. She was bitter toward him, and she encouraged us to do what we wanted, which was to stay in LA, because she knew it would hurt him.” Sloane suddenly recognized her mother’s motivations”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“happened.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“Every night with good friends is a special occasion.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“pulling her snug against him. “If you were mine, I’d never”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“Anton’s daughter from”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“I’ve often thought that a marriage is like a covered wagon, full of the stuff of life. The man and the woman are the two workhorses who pull it. Eventually, it gets heavy. There are children in the wagon, a home that needs to be maintained, feelings that need to be protected and nurtured when life throws curveballs. It works when both partners pull together, but the journey can’t continue for long if one partner unbuckles the straps and decides to ride in the wagon, because it’s easier, and because he knows his partner will keep pulling no matter what. Sometimes it can’t be helped. If someone gets sick or is suffering in some other way . . . physically or emotionally or financially . . . when that happens, the other person needs to bear more of the load, but generally, when both partners are capable, husband and wife should be a team, pulling together, or at least taking equal turns.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“I realized in that moment that I was going to have to find a way to accept how my life had played out and let go of the frustration and regret about not meeting Anton. This was my reality going forward. What good could come from grappling forever with “could have beens”? Every life was full of “could have beens.” The best we could do was make the most of what was and what had been.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“And though it’s important to look forward, not back,” Fiona added, “I also think it’s important to reflect on past mistakes and learn from them. It helps you move forward in the right direction.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines

“I don’t know what I would do if they let me down like that. If they didn’t want to see me. I won’t do that to Alan, no matter how angry I am with him. I’ll make sure they continue to have a relationship with him, and they can judge him for themselves as they get older.”
― Julianne MacLean, These Tangled Vines