(Pipe) dreams of flight?

Since the beginning of this year, I've been re-embarking on an old dream of obtaining my private helicopter license and then moving on up to commercial.
Being that I was never in the air in anything prior to my first helicopter flight in a Robinson R-44 in January, I never truly realized the thrill of being in mid-air, unsuspended.
After putting in some new research and taking a second successful discovery flight in another Robinson R-44 last month, that old dream has been reinvigorated.
Monetary gains from a career-path aside, helicopter flight could also be looked at as another instrument in the war on stress.
What better way to achieve a sense of peace than hovering two-thousand feet above pretty much everything that's been troubling you?

I already realize the costs involved and the amount of training needed to satisfy FAA regulations.
However, the amount of detractors I've been running into hasn't exactly been short in number.
Some say the job prospects begin to dwindle the longer it takes me to complete any step in the training process.

There have also been suggestions to attempt the US Army routes as well.
That has been attempted on a couple of occasions, but with my personal nature, I'm putting the dignity of myself and the armed forces ahead of personal gain and being mindful of any potential, disastrous "wash-outs" in any phase of their training steps.

With that said, this "out-of-pocket" route seems to be the one I'm firmly seeking to follow once the initial funds have been set aside and I've developed a domicile near suitable training centers.
As long as a road everyone else makes the process out to be, it'll be much more worth it in the personal accomplishment department in the far-future sense of things.
Better to get the plan formulated into action and executed now.
I personally don't want to be miraculously old and grey, wondering why I never accomplished that one thing in life I always wanted to do.
So for all those detractors out there letting their personal responsibilities of kids, marriage, relationships, numerous work commitments,. etc dictate the decisions of free people around them;

This is my dream, and I believe that there is your pipe. So do yourself a favor and stay stuck in it.
I got a reality of flight to conjure up.