@Filene It's a long road. Often times a painful one. You are going to lack certain skills (whether social, mental, physical, etc.) in the area you may want to reach. Some skills may even be too late to learn (though you'd be surprised how much dedicated interest can help, too).

Just keep your willpower high, and don't feel like faltering and losing your magic for a time is the same as failing utterly. You only fail utterly when you believe it and never try again.

My path was full of pain that I wouldn't wish on anyone, but the results were worth it, at the same time.