My family is really good at letting go of things and moving on.

The daughter of legacy and public service, Meghan McCain, once spoke with candor and clarity: “My family is really good at letting go of things and moving on.” Though these words may appear simple, they carry within them a wisdom forged by generations who knew the weight of conflict, the sting of loss, and the burden of public life. To let go and to move on is not weakness, but the quiet strength of those who refuse to be chained to bitterness or paralyzed by sorrow.

To be able to let go is to release the grip of the past — its grudges, its disappointments, its pains. Many cling tightly to what has wronged them, carrying the heavy stones of resentment upon their backs. Yet the wise know that such burdens consume energy, cloud judgment, and poison the heart. A family that practices release is a family that chooses freedom, unshackling itself from yesterday so it may walk into tomorrow unburdened.

To move on is the second half of this ancient art. It is not enough to release what weighs you down; you must also step forward with courage. Moving on means accepting that change is the law of life — that no victory, no sorrow, no defeat is eternal. The wheel of time turns, and those who move with it thrive, while those who resist are left behind. In McCain’s words, we hear the echo of resilience: a family that survives storm after storm by refusing to dwell in the ruins, but by building anew upon fresh ground.

History offers a noble example in Abraham Lincoln, who bore immense personal and political defeats. Time and again he lost elections, faced ridicule, and endured the grief of losing children. Yet he practiced the art of letting go and pressing forward. Had he clung to failure, the man would have been broken before reaching the presidency. But in moving on, he rose to become the leader who would preserve a nation and abolish slavery. His life is living testimony that the ability to let go of wounds and move toward purpose is the root of greatness.

McCain’s words also reflect the reality of those whose lives are lived in the public eye. In politics, attacks are constant, slander is abundant, and victories are fleeting. A family that cannot release insult or setback will be torn apart by them. To endure in such a realm requires the discipline to dismiss what does not matter and the vision to fix one’s eyes upon what does. Thus, her family’s strength was not in avoiding hardship, but in mastering the art of rising above it.

The lesson for all of us is clear: if you wish to endure life’s trials, you must learn to practice both release and renewal. Do not chain yourself to past injuries. Do not let bitterness corrode the joy of your present. Instead, let go of what cannot be changed, and step forward into what still can be shaped. For the future belongs not to those who look backward in regret, but to those who move onward with courage.

Practical wisdom follows: when conflict arises in your life, ask yourself, “Is this worth carrying further?” If not, release it. When sorrow grips you, honor it, but do not let it consume you forever. When failure comes, mourn briefly, then rise again with fresh resolve. Practice forgiveness toward others, and even toward yourself. For in forgiveness and forward motion lies the secret of strength.

So remember, O listener, the words of Meghan McCain: “My family is really good at letting go of things and moving on.” Let them remind you that the true mark of resilience is not how tightly we cling, but how gracefully we release. In letting go, you lighten your spirit. In moving on, you reclaim your future. And in this balance, you will find the quiet, unshakable strength that endures through every storm.