in high school every now-and-again jeff rusine would turn to me out of
nowhere and deliver reality checks.  for example, after months of
pining for abby, pepperred with unsuccessful encounters, he turned to
me and shouted "reality check: she doesn't like you."

it's good to be slapped upside the head with reality every
now-and-again, and even better if you can manage to do it to
yourself.  i get film to give me a push now-a-days...