Eight months ago, I had nothing. After selling or throwing out everything I owned in Arizona, I moved back to Connecticut. I stayed with my girlfriend of five years for two months before I left her. When I left her, I had five bags, three of which were filled with military uniforms and gear, the others, personal clothes and effects. I had no car, no place to stay, no reliable source of income. Hell, I didn't even have my dog. So the work began, rebuilding my life from the ground up. It wasn't easy, by any means, but it is possible. I learned a lot about myself along the way. Here are the steps I took to get where I am today:

1. Find a place to stay.

This can be challenging. Staying with family can be tricky, especially if you've already moved out. They don't want to live with you just as much as you don't want to live with them. You've been doing your own thing without them, and they've been doing the same.

Friends can be just as difficult, especially if you haven't talked to anyone or had been in the state, which was my case. Thankfully, my best friend from high school took me in, and his family has been a wonderful support system. I can't thank them enough. if you're fortunate to have some savings, look into apartments, but only if you have a job lined up or know you can get one quickly.

2. Get a job.

It doesn't matter what it is. Money is money. If you're washing dishes, sweeping up hair at a salon, digging ditches, or checking out people's groceries, more power to you. There is no shame in doing what you have to do to make sure you have food in your stomach, a roof over your head, and having your bank account read positive numbers. Save your money; you'll need it for the next step.

3. Get wheels.

A car, a bike, even a moped. Something that can take you farther than your own two feet quickly is a necessity. I got lucky; tax season came around when I was saving up for a vehicle, and a friend of mine was trying to get rid of his car. I took it off his hands, and I was now a proud owner of a gold '99 Nissan Sentra, which my girlfriend promptly named Goldie Honk.

4. Repeat step 2.

Now that you have a means to get farther, expand your horizons to better job opportunities. Now you can be picky; you don't have to settle. Get a job doing something you enjoy, one you don't dread going to. Build your resumé, and have fun doing so.

5. Get your own place.

Now that you've got the car and the job, it's time to get your own place, if you haven't already. Save up some money for the first three months' rent, and go to an apartment complex or get in touch with a landlord with the intent to sign a lease and put down the cash for the first month's rent, the security deposit, and any other fees. Once you have the keys in your hand, you're golden.

Starting over isn't easy. Some people pull a lucky streak and things line up for them perfectly and they can get their life together in four months or less, but for others, it can take much longer. I'm glad I can say that with the support system I had, I was able to get to a spot where I'm comfortable and happy with myself in six months.

Don't think that starting over is impossible. It takes a lot of heart and hard work, but when you can look back and say, "Wow, I really did that?" it's the best feeling. There is unlimited potential in all of us; tap into it. There's nothing holding us back.