J.L. Baldwin

Do you have credit cards?

Do you use them?

Have you accumulated more than $5,000 in debt?

No, this isn’t an infomercial for a debt consolidation company, I’m simply stating facts.

Being in debt can often feel like you’re constantly being held down by the credit card companies, and they never give you any lee-way. I should know. I am currently in my own battle with those f?$%ing people. Having an endless string of debt can cripple you, and make you feel like you are a prisoner. Again, feeling like that right here.

I have been following the minimalists for quite some time now, (www.minimalists.com) and even though I haven’t been actively pursuing the art of living with less, I’ve slowly been adapting myself to it. Every day, I learn that with each little thing I purge, I feel a little bit happier.

For example, this morning I paid off a credit card. I still have a long ways to go before I’m completely debt free, but it’s a start. I’ve spent my entire adult life living in debt. I was 18 when I got my first credit card, and I’ll be 27 this year. I can’t remember a time during my adult years where I wasn’t in some sort of debt. Now, as I’m writing this, I’m staring down the possibility of moving in the next year or so. Scary, I know. I don’t want to start the next chapter of my life living with this crippling debt.

And I’m so damn tired of giving the credit card companies my hard earned money!

All that money I’m giving to them, is money I can be buying books with! (Don’t judge me. We all have our vices!)

A few months ago, me and my mom sat down and created a budget for me. We took the two paychecks I get a month, and divided them up based on what credit card bills will come out of each paycheck. For example, since I get paid on the first, I pay my bills that are due on the 15th and beyond. Then, when I get paid on the 1st of the month, I pay my bills that are due in the first half of the following month. Make sense? Trust me, it has been working for me. I’m no expert, but I’ve been getting a lot smarter with my spending.

With this system, I’m always ahead of the game. And I never miss a payment. So a little tip. If you still live with your parents, don’t make the mistake I did and accumulate a whole crap load of debt. SAVE AS MUCH AS YOU FREAKING CAN! I’m not kidding on this one.

SAVE LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT!!!!!!!!!!!

For when the time comes you move out, you’ll be prepared to take on the world! Or at least those mortgages you’ll have. 😉

Anxiety.
It’s not a light switch. You can’t turn it on and off.
If you’ve ever experienced an anxiety attack, then for a few, short and frightening moments, you couldn’t breathe. You couldn’t think. You can’t do anything but be a prisoner to your own thoughts. And it tears you up inside.
Just because somebody smiles on the outside, doesn’t mean they’re happy on the inside. On the inside, they could be crying, but they’re afraid to let you see that gruesome side of them.
Every day is a constant battle of your brain. Whether you feel like today is going to be a good day, or a bad day. It all depends on that evil little gremlin that sits inside you and taunts you.

Not every day is normal.

Not every day is going to be a good day.

When you wake up and think, “is today the day i’m going to screw up, get fired, and have to give up my dream because it’s too expensive to publish a book?”

Want to know how I know?

Because I struggle with this.

Every.

Single.

Day.

That’s my overwhelming fear. I go to work every single day, and pray to the god’s that I don’t do screw up and get fired. Should I feel like that? Absolutely not. But I can’t help it.
My brain is running a mile a minute all the time. I can’t turn my brain off.

We’re constantly told to “stop overthinking” and “don’t let it bother you so much.” Or my absolute favorite, “don’t take things so personally.”

Anyone who has anxiety, or in my case a very sensitive person, knows the struggle.
I live my day to day life just like everybody else…except for one minor difference.
My anxiety gremlin follows me everywhere I go. And I would love nothing more than to kick his ass to the curb.

So can it be turned off?

No.

Remember that.

So, if you check my page frequently, you’ll see that I added a new event to my calendar. I’ve never done this before, so I’m pretty excited to meet new readers and authors and just have an entire weekend dedicated to my great love! Books! ❤

Manassas Reads – Manassas, VA

The Harris Pavilion, May 6th, 2017

I can’t wait! I wasn’t lying when I said I had a lot happening this year! 😉

xoxo

J.L. Baldwin

http://harrispavilion.com/index.php/event/manassas-reads-571-377-6000/?instance_id=4533

I truly believe I need to keep up with posting on this site now, since I have removed the .wordpress.com from the back of my web address, I am feeling pretty good right now!

Anywho, I recently attended my first signing of the year (and I have many more to come!) and it was so much fun! I got to see some familiar faces, and got to meet some new ones as well. Words can’t describe how much I love being in this world. I used to think it would never happen, and I would forever be wondering what in the world I would do with this dream that I had. Knowing what I know how, I so wish I would have put one foot in front of the other years ago, and make it happen a lot sooner than it did. But looking back now, I believe it had to happen this way. I’m one of those who believe everything happens for a reason.

Crap, I got off topic. I tend to ramble…a lot. LOL!

Me looking all proud and happy! Photo credits go to momma bear (Sue)

Yes, that is moi looking all happy in this new life. This is rare, because normally I HATE having my picture taken. I’m super camera shy and tend to avoid it…unless they’re selfies, then I’m all up in that shit. Haha!

That morning, was a huge milestone for me. An anthology I had participated in made AMAZON BESTSELLER! I’m wondering if I can put BESTSELLING AUTHOR behind my name now? Hmmmm….but, anyways. That was seriously a turning point for me. Building this life, this career is something I’ve always wanted, and it’s something that I will continue to build because it’s what I want.

Dreams remain dreams until they become reality. Once they become reality, everything else is simply irrelevant. – Me

xoxo

J.L. Baldwin

Hey y’all!

TOMORROW IS HUGE!

Well, maybe not really because I tend to exaggerate a LOT! BUT tomorrow is the big cover re-reveal for Dear Dixie! I am super pumped to show you all the new cover!

The super fab T.E. Black designed the cover and I can’t wait to show you all!!!! If you’re in my reader group, you’ll get to see it first. 😉 Be sure to join below!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/958856047535475/

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my books! It means soooo much to me!

xoxo

J.L. Baldwin