My CV is solid, and I have a decent grasp on the mens sana et corpore sano, but this is still an extended exercise in catastrophe management (on an Atrean scale). I worked professionally for a bit, then did a decent conservatory degree, then ten years in the city. During that time working in the theatre, I set my basic stance towards the world. After about a decade, I was driven from that ground, and went to get a top-tier law doctorate; took as many doctrinal courses as I could (which is generally considered madness), and graduated with a good GPA, and passed the NY Bar with a strong score after self-study. Despite that, I was again rather quickly driven from that ground in the city. I then headed to a large midwestern university to do a research doctorate, synthesizing elements of these two fields. Took many courses, ranged broadly across the university, philosophy, history, etc., before writing the dissertation (the department didn't let me audit seminars when writing, contary to the usual practice). The department there was pretty corrupt, and I didn't go along with some of the bad things, and perhaps in response, when I finished the dissertation, they refused to schedule a defense.
That's the story so far. I am basically still working to vindicate that initial stance, but in the interval, my understanding of the struggle has considerably broadened. Onward.