The Gift in the Garbage: Finding Joy in the Overflow

 

Hey friends,

Thank you for stopping by Maryam’s Joyful Life today. I want to share a little perspective shift with you—one that caught me off guard in the most beautiful way.

You know those moments when the trash is full and no one wants to take it out? The grumbling begins, the finger-pointing starts, and suddenly, something as simple as a bin bag becomes the battleground for frustration.

But recently, as I stood there looking at our overflowing trash, I smiled.

Yes, smiled.

Because that full bin? It’s not just trash. It’s a sign of prosperity.

It means there was food to eat—plates filled, bellies nourished.

It means community was present—laughter around the table, stories shared, even if the kids were loud or the kitchen messy.

It means family—whether by blood or by bond—gathered, connected, and lived life together.

A full trash can is evidence that something good happened. That prayers were answered. That provision showed up. That life—messy, beautiful, loud, and real—was lived.

So the next time the bin is full, I challenge you (and myself) to take it out not with a sigh, but with joy and gratitude.

Gratitude for the meals we didn’t go without.

Gratitude for the people around the table—even when things weren’t perfect.

Gratitude for the noise, the crumbs, the wrappers, and the love that made the mess worth it.

Taking out the trash becomes sacred when you realize what filled it.

So instead of fighting over it, maybe just take it out. Take it out with joy, knowing you’re living in the very blessing you once hoped for.

Thank you for reading my blog today. And hey, don’t let anyone steal your joy—not even a trash bag.

With love,

Maryam

Time Wasters, Discernment, and Protecting Your Purpose

Hello guys, welcome to MaryamsJoyfulLife!

Today is a beautiful day, and honestly—regardless of how I feel—it’s still an amazing day. I’m so grateful for the power to choose my focus and shift my energy, even when life throws a few curveballs. That choice alone is powerful—and it changes everything.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on something deep, especially as someone who truly enjoys serving others. I love showing up, giving my best, and going the extra mile—even when it’s not convenient. That’s just how I’m wired. But here's the truth: that extra mile hasn't always led to the kind of business I want.

I’ve noticed a pattern that I can no longer ignore:
The people I bend over backward for—researching, advising, supporting—many of them have turned out to be time wasters. They don’t follow through. They pull energy, not progress. They take the information and disappear. And honestly? It hurts.

Meanwhile, there's another trend—one that’s been so clear lately:
The clients who come prepared, knowing exactly what they want, making no extra demands, and even paying higher—those are the ones who close the deal. Quickly. Smoothly. Efficiently.

Seeing this has made me ask myself:
Should I stop going the extra mile? Should I start saying no to “let me pick your brain” conversations that don’t lead anywhere?
Should I reserve my best only for the ones who are serious about doing business?

My ego says YES—just stop! Stop giving so much. Stop hoping. Stop showing up so hard for people who don't match your energy.

But my spirit says pause. Reflect. Discern.

So I’m praying—for discernment. Discernment to know when someone is a time waster, and when someone is truly sent for a season of purpose. Because honestly, I’m tired of empty wells. I want to pour into places that pour back.

And maybe you’ve been there too.
Maybe you have gone all out for someone, thinking they’d be the one to support your business, only to realize it was all smoke and no fire. If you’ve been in that predicament, I see you. I feel you. And I want to pray with you:

Lord, I pray that you would give us wisdom to see who is truly meant to walk this business journey with us. Remove time wasters from our path and replace them with real clients, real opportunities, and real connections. Make the process smooth, the outcome joyful, and the energy returned—pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Thank you for walking through this moment with me. If you’re building something with your heart and soul—don’t stop. Just adjust your approach. Protect your gift. Guard your energy. And stay rooted in your purpose.

As always, don’t forget to check out MaryamsJoyfulLifeLuxuryVacation.com for all of your travel needs.
Call me directly at 470-765-2745 to book your next dream vacation!
Sending you love from the UK 💛

With joy and strength,
Maryam

21 DAY POSITIVE CHANGES CHALLENGE|| Napoleon Hill's Power of Positive Action

 

Hello sweet and lovely friends. Thank you for checkign out my blog today. I hope this comes to you in a beautiful way and brightens up your day some way special :)

While I was studying Napoleon Hill's book, "Power of Positive Action," I had the inspiration to share Chapter 3's 21 Day Challenge with you all.

Please read below and give it a try. I will be going on the journey with you also. My focus is gratitude and appreciation and also learnign to listen more.

Watch our latest vlog:

Have a blessed day!

Don't let Anyone Steal Your Joy!

Maryam

THIS IS TOO RELEVANT NOT TO SHARE

Good morning wonderful friends, I am so excited to be here for another beautiful day. Hope this post meets you in great spirits! Today is a beautiful day and I couldn't keep myself from sharing an amazing article, I read on one of my favorite travel websites. But before I share it with you, I first of all wanted to remininse over our recent trip to the UK for 2024 Spring break! The picture above is that of me and my babies waiting at Montreal, Canada for our flight to London Heathrow. 

I love these memories of travel with my babies and this one specifically still feels very surreal to this day. If you want to travel with your kids but are scared because you haven't done it before, don't be afraid, "JUST DO IT!" I can help you plan it too. 

Visit my website www.maryamsjoyfullifeluxuryvacation.com to see the great deals that I can offer you!

The above picture is a beautiful view of Portofino, Italy! We can take you there! Just call 470-765-2745

or visit my website www.maryamsjoyfullifeluxuryvacation.com for more information.

Here's the article that inspired me this morning. This article is from Insider Travel Report authored by Anita Pagliasso and I have included more information on her at the end of the article. Enjoy!

What’s preventing you from being successful? Are you feeling stuck? Do you allow others to define your potential? You can’t break through to your next level of success unless you. understand what’s holding you back. The “F”s in life can help us understand how they can get in the way or help you grow your business.

Fear: To be successful in business, we must step outside our comfort zone and move through the fear. Many times, I have come up with what I thought was a great idea but then stopped short of execution when I started to doubt myself. I can remember one specific time when I decided that I would approach some other businesses to see if they would be interested in co-marketing. I reflected on my fears and thought: “What if they reject my idea?” I pushed through those doubts and ended up with positive results with a majority of the businesses that I approached.

Frustration: Not being able to get clients to return your calls or emails can be so frustrating, especially when you have done all the work, found a great package, and now have a limited time to hold the reservation. Change the subject line or express urgency. For a subject line, I like to use “I’ve got fantastic news for you!” Whatever the circumstances are, don’t give up until you feel that you have exhausted all avenues. Then don’t dwell but move on.

Failure: The problem is that we are conditioned to avoid failure at any cost, so we play it safe. We operate within boundaries where success is most assured and avoid difficult tasks because of our fear of failure. I had a note posted on my computer for the longest time that said: “Rejection means nothing to me.” Each time a customer told me no, I looked at that sentence and tried again. I look at my failures as opportunities to improve. What could I do differently the next time? What lesson did I learn? In sales, it’s a numbers game. The more times you try, the more chances for success.

Faulty Assumptions: Eliminate self-created barriers to your success and focus on the facts. Don’t assume that because a client didn’t book their trip with you this time, you did something wrong. There could have been myriad personal reasons that they chose not to share with you. Instead go with the assumption that they will possibly use your services in the future. Thank them for giving you the opportunity. Let them know that you will continue to keep in touch and hope to be able to be of service the next time.

Focus on the Possibilities: Accept the challenge of finding new business, clients and opportunities. But this means getting out there and always trying something new. It can be scary, but also exciting to imagine what can happen next.

Fearless: Getting unstuck requires taking action and having courage. Contact that customer who rejected your last quote. Schedule a meeting with the pied piper who you think you have found the perfect trip for. Take on that project that you’ve been thinking about for the last years. Get yourself a “can do” attitude.

Fortune is out there waiting for you to claim it. Don’t let hesitation about doing something that is out of your comfort zone stop you from achieving it.

Anita Pagliasso’s passion has always been about all aspects of educating travel advisors, especially in the areas of marketing. You will find her columns relevant since they come from her own personal journey of turning a one-person home-based agency business into a thriving enterprise. She provides inspiration, encouragement, motivation and, most of all, shows how to keep the fun alive while selling travel. She is the author of “From Home Based to POWERHOUSE!” She currently serves as vice president of industry relations for KHM Travel Group, the large host agency; president of PATH (Professional Association of Travel Hosts); vice president of CCTO (California Coalition of Tourism Organizations, CLIA STARBoard and trade relations co-chair; and is a member of the ASTA Board of Directors. 

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam

LIFE WITH MY BABIES AND SWEETMAN LATELY

 

Hello everyone, thank you for checking out my blog today. I want to be more consistent with posting, so please pray for me :). I hope this blog reaches you in great spirits today. I do believe that if I want to make something happen; like being more consistent with my posting, I just have to do it.

I used to post a lot but lived less. Each passing day in the past, I would research what other people were doing that I would love to do and then  posted about them. However, things have changed for me and this happened by choice. I got tired of being on the sidelines, watching others live their best lives, while I watched.  Today, I am now living life and making posts about my experience. I have also noticed that I'm not anxious or in a hurry to share the good happening in my life. It's crazy but that's my current experience in life. Peopl who are truly living their best lives, don't feel the need to post about it all the time but occationally. I want my joyfullife to show more than I talk about it. 

I am living more in order to experience more so that I can share from a place of experience rather than theory. So, with all that said, here's a few pictures of how I have been living lately. From the constant fun and amazing adventures with my children and sweetman to travelling to Nashville, TN for business and pleasure. Life lately has been livingness! Yes, you heard that right! Life is in the livingness of it and don't ever get it twisted! All of the lessons and theories you have been accumulating will not apply themselves if accumulating them is all you do. So, go out, live those theories and lessons out. Test them on your life and come back and share your AMAZING experiences with us!

Nightout in Nashville with my lover!

The food scene in Nashville we rated 10/10

On one of my training days, I got out early and my sweetman and I went out and explored Nashville!

Cooky is an amazing sister/friend and host! We had a blast sharing the time with her.

Our time at the Westin Hotel in Buckhead, Atlanta

The babies and I went and fed the homeless last Saturday in Downtown, ATL.

I''m so thankful that I get to do life with my Angels everyday!

Thank you for stopping by!

Don't Let Anyone Steal Your Joy!

Maryam

HOW TO BE COURAGEOUS

 

Good morning my friends. Today is a beautiful day and I'm excited to be here. Hope you had an amazing weekend! Let me share a little bit about my weekend with you; So I had my Meet and Greet this past Saturday but no one showed up. I waited and waited but no one came and it sucked but I lived through it. I'm proud of myself that I showed up regardless of the disappointment.

I almost didn't go live this morning because I almost felt like what I was doing wasn't making any impact but I showed up! In today's live broadcast, I shared my take on the subject of "courage," because it took courage for me to plan and show up for something that didn't go as planned. Anyways, courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to move towards your goal inspite of the fear.  I have shared the link with you to watch it here:

Have a great day!

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

MARYAM

OUR OCTOBER HIGHLIGHT|| MEETING LILY PETALS WORLD

 

Hello my friends, thank you for checking out my blog today. I am very grateful for you. Hope you and your family had an amazing month of October?! Wow! What a month?! God is good.

Many wonderful things happened in this month for me and I'm going to share a few with you. 

My kids and I met our YouTube friend; Lily Petals World and her kids. We had a blast at Atlantic Station; Atlanta. Lily was very warm and welcoming and it felt like we had known her for years. Lily's new man was there too and he was a wonderful person to be around. Here's the vlog from our visit:

My Daily Morning show has been a blessing also. When I started, I didn't know that I would still be doing to this day and I did and I'm still going strong with it. I have some great plans for it too. Here's yesterday's show:

We talked about letting go and focusing on our goals, on yesterday's episode. I believe my morning show will change millions of lives around the world. I'm right now thinking about ideas that would make me better and also improve my show. 

Another highlight is my style. I don't always dressup unless I'm going to church or a business meeting/conference but having this daily show, I'm letting my fashion and style come through babyyy :). I notice how more confident I feel each time I get dressed for my show and I love it. 

October has been wonderful and I'm excited for the amazing things that will manifest in November. I pray that your November is filled with blessings and surprises in Jesus Name. Amen!!

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam

ARASH VOSSOUGHI MILLIONAIRE MINDSET MORNING AND EVENING ROUTINE

 

What's up everybody, thank you for checking out my blog today. Today is a beautiful day and I am very excited to be posting this blog today. I believe today's post will inspire everyone.

In today's blog, I would like to share Millionaire mindset coach Arash Vossoughi's morning and evening routines. Arash is the founder and CEO of Voss Coaching Co. He was personally mentored by the greatest Prosperity teacher ever; late Bob Proctor. I have been following Arash for years and I consider him ny coach and I do intend to enrol for his mentorship soon but in the mean time, I wanted to share some valuable lessons I learned from his latest Podcast: 7 Figure Standard with you.

Arash is believer of how you start your day is how you end your day. He gives very valuable tips that can help anyone raise their standards and live the life they have always dreamed of. 

Morning Routine

1. Think about your goal. Arash advises everyone to think about their goal when they wake up first thing in the morning. He said the subsconcious mind, which is responsible for 95% of our results is more receptive to work on our goals when we think about them within five minutes of waking up.

2. Gratitude. Think about 5 to 10 things you are grateful for and feel the gratitude.

3. He exercises. He said he would walk his dog for 30 minutes and get some exercise while he does it.

4. I Am statements. He said he would say out loud 10 to 20 I Am statements because whatever we place after the sentence IAM, we become. For example: I AM HAPPY, HEALTHY AND WEALTHY AND I LOVE IT!

5. Affirmations of your goals. Arash advises us to say our goals in the present tense as though we have already achieved them.

6. Study. He said to focus on 3-5 paragraphs about an area we want to improve on, in a book that covers that topic. He said to study it until it becomes a part of us.

Arash also advised that as we grow, our processes will have to change. He said to upgrade our disciplines and processes as they become part of our nature. 

Evening Routine

1. Arash advises us to ask ourselves questions after the work day. Questions like: Did I act like the person I wanted to become today?

2. Did I behave like that person? He further explains that the evening routine keeps us accountable so we don't drift from our goals.

3. He said we should write out 3 to 4 goal achieving activities  in the present tense that we intend to carryout the next day, as though it is already done. 

4. Lastly, he said 3 mins before we fall asleep, we should affirm our goals in the present tense and feel like we already achieved them.

Here's the video for more tips about Arash's morning and evening routine:

I hope this inspires you.

Maryam

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

OUR FIRST EVER ROAD-TRIP

 

Good morning, wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. I hope this blog meets you well. Thank you for stopping by to read my blog today.

Today is a beautiful day and I'm excited to share this post with you all. I have a question for you. Have you ever been on a road trip with kids? Have you planned and followed through with it? If you have, congratulations. That's a GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT! You should be proud of yourself because I know that I am proud of you. 

The first picture is from when we went grocery shopping for our road trip.

We made a quick stop at Waffle House for breakfast, two hours into our trip.

I have been stuck in Georgia for a looonnng time. Well, "stuck," is an over-reaction but I have been in one place for too long. But you know what, you guys? This is the last time I let myself be stuck! For a while, I have been playing with the idea of travelling and seein new places with my children but it seemed like all I was doing was daydream. I often encourage my followers to go after the life they want but it seemed like I was more comfortable telling others to go after their dream, while I was not going after mine. Well, I have decided that I'm going to start living like I encourage others to! So, with all that being said, the kids and I are going on our FIRST EVER out of state roadtrip! What??!!! Guys, I'm screaming right now lol...

Want to know what we are bringing? Please watch this video:

I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Guys, something happened recently that almost made me cancel but I decided I wouldn't cancel for any reason. Well, here we are right now. I am posting this blog right from the heart of our vacation. I'm sitting by the pool; while the kids swim, I'm writing this post and I'm having a BLAST!

Want to know the groceries we are bringing with us? Watch this video:

The journey was smoothe and though we got lost at the wrong hotel, we found our way to the right one. 

If you're thinking about taking a trip, quit thinking about it and JUST DO IT!

Just take that trip! Life is in the livingness of it. So, go live it up!

Thank you for reading this. 

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam

MY DIVORCE DETAILS YOU SHOULD KNOW

 

Divorce Divorce Divorce....

It's crazy that I am even talking about this topic right now because I dreaded it but here we go. I reviewed this term called Divorce and what it entails and the mere sound of it brings fear into my heart and this fear is not even reasonable because Divorce is just another way of saying "I'm moving on," or " I recognize God is taking you somewhere better but I don't feel good enough to be by your side and so I giveup what we have together." Society associates it with hardship, depression, failure, shame and difficulty but not me! I describe as opportunity for God to show up and prove society WRONG again!

My take is that Divorce is neither a good thing nor a bad thing but our thinking makes it so. I'm not one to give up on life when something or someone doesnt work out and I say this with the most humility and confidence. As a people living in a society that is often creating laws and naratives of limitations, we are often tempted to predict our future based on limitations and false expectations. I choose to differ. I was Christ's bride before I ever became a wife. My life is not dictated by events that worked out or didnt work out but by what I choose and the story I choose to tell myself. 

As the Bible says "All things work together for MY good!" These all things include DIVORCE. G

I don't know who you are reading this but here's what I have to say, "It's all working out in your favor!" 

God always has something greater and better for you but you have to want it for yourself. Cry about the breakup and dread facing the future by yourself but don't stay there. Get back up and keep going. Trust God and get better. Go out and exercise. Go out there and say hi to total strangers. I don't mean date people before you are ready but do things that will keep you hopeful about the future because BETTER is coming!

I end this post with this: whether it is a divorce or a loss, it doesnt have to be the end of your life. There's something BETTER around the corner. Reach for it in excitement and it will all make sense eventually.

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

MARYAM

21DAY CHALLENGE TO BETTER HEALTH

 Good morning, wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. Hope this meets well. I am happy to be blogging today. Hope you're good and you've got your heart and mind protected from negativity?!

Today is a great day to share my challenge with you, but before we get into it, I wanted to just share an epiphany I just had with you. I just realized that I am prideful and not in a bad way. I want to inspire others to do better for themselves and others but before I can inspire others, I first want to try to be better and do better. I am constantly living by the principle of being the example I want to see and while I know this is not always easy, I still try my best to live by it. I have failed but I get back up and keep trying.

This is the first video of the challenge!

Now, with all that out of the way, I am doing a 21 day health challenge and today is the second day. If you know me, you'll know that I love rice and bread. These two foods are like my love. I eat them at least once everyday. So, as part of this challenge, I will be giving them up for 21 days and also, I will be working on my abdomen. I have not been consistent with my situps and all of that is changing with the challenge. I will be doing at least 100 situps each day for the next 21 days and track my progress.

How does this concern you? You might be asking. Well, here is how it concerns you; I want to inspire you to join the challenge with me. Let's make a decision to start a new trend and a create a new habit which will in turn change our lives. What is it that you want to cut off for the next 21 days? Do it. I am doing it with you. I am cheering you on and wishing you the best as you make progress.

Here's to making progress and looking mighty fine/fabulous!

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam

AM I THE ONLY PARENT WHO EXPERIENCES THIS?

 Hello my friends. How are you doing today? Happy New Year and Valentine's Day Weekend/SuperBowl Weekend too. It's a lot of festivities this weekend huh? Lol... 

Today is a beautiful day and it's night time while I write this post and since it's been a while since my last post, I thought to myself; "why not post a blog tonight?' So, here we go! 

The kids and I are in Marriott Marquis Atlanta for the weekend and it's wonderful. The kids were looking foward to swimming and dipping in the hot tub but were a little disappointed when they were told they couldn't swim because of an issue with the pool area and by the time the pool area is fixed, we would've been long home and settled back to our routine lol.. So maybe next time we come back, the pool will be available for the kids.

Inspite of the pool situation, we figured a way to still enjoy our stay; such as ordering room service and touring the hotel. We were also supposed to go out and eat dinner at Benihannah's but didn't do it because it was raining and so could outside. It felt safer and wiser to order room service. The food was delicious too. 

Now, here's a question I have; If you are a parent reading this, do you ever get scared and worked up when you're planning a family getaway or vacation? Do you get overwhelmed and almost feel like cancelling the whole trip because of that? 

Well, I get that feeling all the time. It's like when it's time to get the kids out  of the house for a getaway, I suddenly get overwhelmed and this got me thinking about other parents who never go anywhere with their kids. I'm starting to believe that many parents choose to stay at home because it's easier and safe. At least while they are at home, they don't have to worry about juggling the kids around, looking for the best palce to eat and other things in between.

If you get overwhelmed and scared the next time you're planning a trip with your kids, here's my advise for you; pray and go anyways. You've got to face your fears and get out eventually. Just take a break from your daily routine and house for a fresh location with your family. It helps renew your energy and opens the door for a fresher perspective for everyone. 

Parents, try to relax and breathe. The kids will be fine and you will be too. 

I can be uptight when it comes to my kids and their wellbeing but I'm learning to relax more and breathe. With God's help, I have gotten better with being more relaxed and enjoying the moment. 

My advise to you, enjoy the moment. Don't allow a moment that should be fun become work and stressful for you. Breathe intentionally and smile. 

I hope this cheered you up in some way. 

Don't Steal Your Own Joy!

Maryam

FAST BECOMING A TRADITION|| Latest Vlogs

 

Good morning wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. Thank you for checking out my blog today. Today is a beautiful day.

It's the season to expect miracles y'all. I can't believe it's already December but hey, it is. Life is still great and God is always good. There's always something to be thankful for and the more thankful we are, the happier we find we are.

So the kids and I have sort of made taking Holiday pictures a tradition. Every year the past 3 years, we have taken Holiday pictures and we do it ourselves. I have shared a couple with you all on the blog today.

We have also been going to basketbal games on the weekends and that has been fun too. life is better when you enjoy different activities with your family. Make sure to make the time to enjoy your time with your kids and family.

Did I tell you that we have also been vlogging? Well yes, and here are a few vlogs to catch up with:

In this vlog, you learn how to be patient and prepare yourself for the thinsg you have prayed for.

Zoe unboxed some new clothes.

Special healing video for those experiencing heaviness. Check it out and signup for my one on one session if you need it.

Thanks for checking out my blog.

Don't Let Anyone Steal Your Joy!

Maryam

FUN PACKED OCTOBER|| WELCOME NOVEMBER

 

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. I am so happy you could stop by today. It is November already and October was just here. While it seemed as though October was fast in making it's entry and exit, we are still grateful for the many blessings it brought.

The kids had fun dressing up in their favorite costumes and getting candy from their respective schools. I had fun being mama and driver to all of their events too.

I did a lot of filming in October and I'm grateful that November is here. Here is a few videos you may want to catch up with:

Our morning live broadcasts have been amazing! Make sure to catch one soon.

This was a fun collab with Youtube @ShawdgawdTV. The kids had fun making the video too.

This one with y ridiculous face, was a good one too. If you want to be inspired, you want to watch it.

We are going to be vlogging more than usual. SO make sure to keep up.

I can't leave without a word of encouragement.

Don't let Anyone Steal your Joy!

Have a blessed November!

Maryamsjoyfullife