Ending a long term relationship can be hard. And, one of the worst things you can do is have a messy long breakup. Steve Ballmer posts on his choice to leave the Microsoft Board.

Given my confidence and the multitude of new commitments I am taking on now, I think it would be impractical for me to continue to serve on the board, and it is best for me to move off. The fall will be hectic between teaching a new class and the start of the NBA season so my departure from the board is effective immediately.

As some words of advice come it is best to make a clean break.

Unless you’re planning on being friends afterwards (check out our opinion on that topichere), instead of laying in bed with Netflix, a bottle of wine, and your ex’s comfiest sweater, you should probably hand that sweater back. If you’re in possession of certain items that once belonged to them which now haunt you, how about giving those babies back? While you’re at it, get that second key to your apartment back in your hands (cross your fingers hoping that they didn’t make a copy to eerily show up uninvited.) For both your sakes, any loose ties should be cut and forgotten.