My friends and I were talking about break-ups the other day, and I mentioned how proud I was of a friend who opted for the clean break. She had said that she felt really crappy, and that she missed being able to talk to her ex, but that deep down, she knew it was the best move.

"I'm all for the clean break," my friend Meta said.
I agreed.

"Well, we know you're all about the clean break," Indiana replied.

Guilty as charged. I had a prolonged break-up with my first major romance -- first we went on a break, but we still talked every day, and then I went to visit her and I realized things weren't there and officially broke it off. I tried for the friendly exes immediately after, but conversations eventually devolved in talks about the past. I  figured out then that the clean break is best. I just haven't figured out how to stop my exes from being mad at me for instituting it. :)

We also talked about breaks, which we all agreed are just a ruse -- a break is only the first step to break-up. It's instituted because someone isn't brave enough to just go ahead and say it's over. Breaks rarely end with a reunion, my friend Fidelity said.

What do you think? Anyone have successful "break" stories? Anyone have a fool-proof break-up strategy?

(Photo by woodsy at stock.xchng)