Remember in the sitcom "Friends" how Ross would wail "we were on a break!" Well, that’s where I’ve been with this blog. I was on a break for a while. Lots of reasons: life; change in blog hosting requirements; sunspots. But I’m back now and determined to continue this blog.

Genealogy demands breaks, too. Whether a day, a month or even years, stepping back from the research helps in the long run. We can return with a fresh perspective to analyze old clues. Sometimes those old, tired clues suddenly make sense. And just the activity of refreshing the memory can trigger news ideas and avenues of research.

Taking a break--recess, if you will--also prevents burn out. It can be frustrating to repeatedly hit our head against those family brick walls. The whole process stops being fun. A break can get the juices flowing again and bring the enjoyment back into this unique hobby.

So don’t feel guilty if the time comes to take a break. Enjoy the other activities of life and know that the research, and alas, the brick walls, will be waiting for you when you’re ready to resume.