Can't keep my skills higher than 30! Problem? Or who cares? Hi all,

First, I'm in love with this game.

Second, I seem to suck at this game.

I die. A lot. 

Can't count how many times I fall off my roof going for an ambitious angle. 

Can't count how many times I charge an enemy, take one hit and die, because - yknow - I forgot food.

I'm exploring the swamp right now. I die just about every 10 minutes - when I forget to reup my poison mead. 

Almost 100 days in, 30 seems to be as high as I can keep a skill. 

Is this something others struggle with? I don't know if the death penalty is too harsh, I need to L2p, or something in between... but I'm almost at the point where I've stopped caring what my skills are and just hoping that I can accomplish anything I need to and don't need skills higher than 25-30 to do it!