Over the past two days, I’ve written about discovering our wholeness when we leave (“I Get Along Without You Very Well”) and celebrating collective freedom when toxic people exit (“Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead”). But there’s an entire soundtrack to liberation that deserves recognition.

These songs aren’t about wallowing in heartbreak or nursing wounds. They’re about reclaiming power, celebrating freedom, and recognizing that some departures – whether we initiate them or experience them – are healthy, pure gifts.

“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor is the anthem. “I grew strong, I learned how to get along” – that moment when you realize the person who left (or you left behind) didn’t diminish you. They revealed your strength.

“Survivor” by Destiny’s Child takes it further – not just surviving but thriving. This is the collective exhale, the recognition that toxicity’s departure allows everyone to flourish.

“Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles is gloriously direct. No explanation required, no justification needed. Just: go. Sometimes that unapologetic dismissal is exactly what integrity demands.

“50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” by Paul Simon captures something we forget – leaving can be light, even playful. You don’t need drama or perfect closure. Sometimes you “just slip out the back, Jack.”

“These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” by Nancy Sinatra is about reclaiming power. The moment you stop accepting mistreatment and start moving toward something better. Pure agency.

“Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson nails that relief: “I can breathe for the first time.” Freedom rediscovered, space reclaimed, life breathable again.

We’ve been taught that maturity and growing older means gracefully enduring. That wisdom requires us to stay, accommodate, make peace with toxicity. That leaving – or celebrating when troublemakers leave – is somehow petty or immature.

Nonsense!

True maturity is recognizing when staying diminishes you. Real wisdom is celebrating liberation, whether you claim it yourself or it arrives through someone else’s departure. Full integrity means singing these songs loud and meaning every word.

As human beings and especially sagers, we’ve earned the right to stop performing patience with people who don’t deserve it. We’ve learned to recognize manipulation, dishonesty and disrespect faster and exit sooner. We understand that some relationships, some jobs, some situations aren’t worth the cost to our peace and happiness.

So build your liberation playlist. Sing these songs in your car, your office, your home and with friends. Let them remind you: departure can be triumph. Freedom can be joyful. And discovering you’re complete without someone – or finally free of someone – deserves celebration.

And the next time someone tells you that growing into maturity means enduring others or accepting what diminishes you because that’s how it is, including a job or career? Turn Up the Volume.

What’s your liberation song?

Thanks – Michael (he, him)

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This also matters – Without You – A Song of Triumph and Truth.

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