[gmgarrison]

Just want to add for anyone who comes after reading this, I think these types of recommendations are tied strongly to personality. If you have a similar personality, then take this advice. If you're more risk adverse, more anxious, more prone to depression, then it's possible that this advice is harmful. Obviously poster didn't intend any harm but it's hard to caveat everything with "this may not apply to you." Just be careful - some people have the resources and personality to learn "hands on" and some people would do much better with a lot more intellectual understanding or with a supportive community or with some other available resource. Know yourself.