When poet T.S. Eliot wrote that April is the cruelest month, he probably wasn't thinking about January -- which these days is being dubbed the official breakup month.
Sandwiched uncomfortably between the December holiday season and Valentine's Day, it's the time of year when more couples tend to call it quits.
These holidays and all they symbolize can be tough on relationships. For many people, January is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts -- which can mean getting out of a bad relationship.
"The holidays are probably one of our busiest times of the year," says Jim Irwin, director of the Downtown Pittsburgh office of It's Just Lunch, a national agency that arranges casual first dates only -- introducing potential mates in a low-pressure situation like lunch or coffee, rather than committing to the traditional evening out.
Irwin says January is busy, but sees it as more of a positive, fresh start approach to a new year. "People don't come in and say they've just broken up with someone; often, they're busy professionals who've made a resolution to focus more on their personal life in the new year."
