Quotes from Julianne MacLean

I was so tired of people assuming I was too fragile or innocent to protect myself. What was it about me that made them think I couldn't handle hardship?

gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without adversity." – Donina Va'a Renata

will not be defined by my past, nor will I harbor bitterness toward those who wronged me. Instead I will pity them, for they do not know compassion or forgiveness.

that life is short and we can't waste precious time feeling hateful or carrying grudges.

She's still as fast as a whip.

How extraordinary it is when all the puzzle pieces finally come together and we are able to see the whole picture…and behold something beautiful.

once read that people who are going through cancer treatment sometimes feel like the disease was a gift, no matter the outcome, whether they beat it or not, because they feel like their spirits are awakened.

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.

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.

there has to be some sort of magic in the universe when incredible things unfold as they do.

It was difficult to imagine anyone besting him on the water, or anywhere else for that matter. He was powerful and unstoppable, and from her vantage point, he was the force to be reckoned with. Especially when it came to that infuriatingly stubborn spark of desire in her heart, which simply would not die, no matter how hard or how long she tried to snuff it out.

decided I would never take contentment for granted again. I would make the most of it while it lasted.

Sometimes life is cruel, and it can seem pointless and tragic. But occasionally—surprisingly—certain hardships can lead you down a new path you never dreamed possible.

Are you forgetting that I let my father cut me off? I said goodbye to my entire family for you. That's how crazy in love with you I was.

violent weather outside put me in a pensive, reflective

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.

Life never quits being thought provoking and mysterious.

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.

I reined in my imagination because there was no point dreaming about what might have been. If things had been different, my life would not be the same today, and I could never want that. Not now, because I loved my life. I loved my husband and my children and the happy home that we shared.

I hold him in my arms most of the time, whether he's awake or asleep, because I'm so in love, I don't want to set him down. The depth of my feeling is inconceivable. I can barely fathom it. I never knew such love was possible. He's the most beautiful thing in the universe to me, and I can't stop staring at him…adoring him….

Contemplate all that you are grateful for, and never give up on your dreams. Most importantly, give your whole heart to all that you love in this life.

Two other firefighters do a 360 around the vehicle, shining flashlights everywhere. I watch the beams sweep across the dark ravine. One of them speaks on a walkie-talkie to someone above us. I can make out his words that the patient appears to be stable.

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.

We were supposed to love each other forever. I'd always believed we would, that we were inseparable. Soul mates from the first moment our eyes met. How did this happen?