How I Became a Travel Agent: The Journey, the Faith, and the Decision to Start

Sometimes the opportunity you are looking for is already being prepared for you—you just have to take the first step.

If you have been following my journey for a while, you probably already know that I love to travel. I love experiencing new places, tasting foods from different cultures, meeting people from different backgrounds, and learning how other people see and experience the world.

But something you may not know is that I never originally planned to become a travel agent.

My journey into the travel business started in 2021, and looking back now, I can see how every little step led me to where I am today.

Watch the video here:

My Love for Travel Came First

Travel has always been a big part of my life.

I have always dreamed of traveling around the world, and whenever I travel, I love bringing my children along. For me, traveling isn't simply about visiting beautiful destinations. It's about creating memories, experiencing different cultures, meeting people, trying new foods, and seeing life from different perspectives.

I also played basketball at the amateur and professional levels, including during college, so traveling was already a regular part of my life.

Still, becoming a travel agent wasn't something I had seriously considered.

That changed in 2021.

The Experience That Changed Everything

At the time, I was working as a booking agent for Holland America Line, a cruise line company.

As I worked with guests, I began noticing something that really stood out to me.

People would call because they couldn't reach their travel agents.

Some didn't know what to do with their reservations. Others needed help booking excursions, adding flights, arranging additional travel services, or making changes to their vacations.

And many of them couldn't get in touch with the person who had originally booked their trip.

The more calls I received like this, the more I started thinking:

Where are these travel agents? Why aren't they taking care of their clients?

At the same time, I was learning more and more about the travel industry.

Because I was receiving some complicated calls, I had to learn quickly. Even though I was relatively new, I found myself figuring things out and helping people with issues that I wasn't necessarily expecting to handle.

And that's when I made a promise to myself:

If I ever become a travel agent, I will never neglect my clients.

I wanted my future clients to know that if they had a question, they could call me, text me, or email me. I wanted to be someone they could depend on.

That commitment became one of the foundations of my travel business.

I Started Researching

Once the idea of becoming a travel agent got into my head, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

I started researching.

I wanted to know what it would take to become a travel agent. I looked online and tried to understand the requirements, the costs, the training, and how people actually built travel businesses.

I came across different opportunities, some of which required significant fees, and I wasn't sure which direction to take.

But I kept researching.

And then something interesting started happening.

Travel agents would call in while I was working and I would help them with their clients' reservations. After I helped them, some of them would say things like, "You did such a great job. I wish I could get an agent like you every time I called."

More than once, I heard that I would be good at this business.

Those conversations gave me even more confidence.

I started thinking:

I can do this.

Then Someone Gave Me an Opportunity

One day, a travel agent called in with several reservations that needed to be handled.

I helped him with everything he needed.

Afterward, he told me that if I was that good at helping with travel reservations, he thought I would make a good travel agent.

Then he said something simple:

"If you ever want to become a travel agent, give me a call."

That was it.

But for me, it felt like an opportunity.

I took his number.

After work that day, I called him and reminded him of our conversation. I told him that I was interested and wanted to know what it would take to get started.

He explained that he owned a franchise and could bring me into the business as an agent. I would receive training and operate my business under his franchise.

There was an investment involved, and I knew I would have to invest in myself.

But I was ready.

I Invested in Myself

After some back-and-forth and waiting for the details to be finalized, I learned what the initial investment would be.

It was a significant amount of money for me at the time.

But I didn't hesitate.

I had already made the decision that I wanted to do this.

I saw it as an investment in myself and even thought of it as an early Christmas and birthday gift to myself—a new business and a new beginning.

Once everything was set up, I made my payment and received access to the training program.

And then the real work began.

The Training Was Serious

I studied.

A lot.

I had to complete self-paced training and learn how the business worked. I wanted to learn as much as possible in the shortest amount of time.

I studied in the mornings.

I studied at night.

And I worked on my business while still managing my other work.

It wasn't always easy, but I knew that if I wanted something new, I had to make room for it.

The more I learned, the more confident I became.

Eventually, I started working as a travel agent under my former business partner's franchise.

The business was commission-based, meaning I earned commissions from the travel products and services I sold. We had an agreement regarding the portion of my commissions that went toward operating under his franchise.

Now I had the opportunity to build my own clientele.

And that's exactly what I started doing.

My First Clients

In the beginning, I talked about my business everywhere.

I created business cards and handed them out. I told people that I was a travel agent and explained some of the travel options and deals available through my business.

For a while, nobody booked with me.

Then came my first breakthrough.

My children's former pre-K principal, who owned a pre-K program, booked a cruise with me for herself and her family.

I was so excited to help them plan their trip and send them off on their cruise.

Later, she came back and booked an all-inclusive resort vacation as well.

Those early bookings meant a lot to me because they showed me that people were willing to trust me with their travel plans.

My former business partner also referred clients to me from time to time when he was unavailable.

Little by little, I kept going.

The Promise I Made to My Clients

One thing has remained important to me throughout this entire journey:

I don't want my clients to feel forgotten.

If someone calls me with a question about their reservation, I want to help.

If I know the answer, I'll give it to them.

If I don't know the answer, I'll find out and get back to them.

I take pride in responding to messages, researching destinations, planning trips carefully, and making sure my clients know what's happening with their travel plans.

My goal is to make the process as seamless as possible.

When someone hires me to help with their vacation, I don't want them sitting around wondering what is happening with their reservation.

That's what I'm there for.

And that goes all the way back to those calls I received when I was working as a booking agent.

I remembered the people who couldn't find their travel agents.

I remembered the promise I made to myself.

And I decided that if God gave me the opportunity to build this business, I would be the kind of travel advisor who was present for her clients.

From Travel Agent to Franchise Owner

For a while, I was balancing my travel business with another business.

Eventually, it became a lot.

I had phones ringing for both businesses, and I had to make some decisions about where I wanted to focus my energy.

As things changed, I found myself focusing more heavily on my travel business.

Then, in 2023, I decided I wanted to take another major step.

I wanted to own my own franchise.

At the time, I knew that purchasing a franchise would require a much larger investment. I didn't have the full amount sitting in my bank account, but I knew I was ready.

So I told my business partner that I wanted to move forward.

I submitted the paperwork to the head office and waited to hear what they would offer me.

I expected that I would need a substantial deposit and would probably have to finance the remaining amount.

But I didn't know what God had already prepared.

God Had a Different Plan

I remember praying and asking God to guide me.

I was thinking about the money I would need and wondering how everything would come together.

Then I received the call.

The business development manager told me that they had reviewed my business, my performance, and everything I had accomplished since I started.

Then they gave me their offer.

And I couldn't believe it.

The amount they offered me for the franchise was the same amount I had originally invested to get started as a business partner under someone else's franchise.

It was even less than the deposit I had expected to need.

I was shocked.

I remember thinking, "Are you serious?"

And they were serious.

That was how I became a franchise owner.

Becoming a Business Owner

Everything was established for me in August 2023, and I officially began my journey as a franchise owner.

I was incredibly happy and grateful.

Looking back, I can see how many seemingly small things came together to get me there.

It started with a love for travel.

Then came a job where I was exposed to the travel industry.

Then came the frustrated customers who couldn't reach their travel agents.

Then came the idea.

Then the research.

Then the unexpected person who told me to call him.

Then the training.

Then the first clients.

Then the decision to invest in myself.

And eventually, I became a franchise owner.

What started as a thought became a real business.

What My Journey Has Taught Me

My journey into the travel business has taught me that sometimes you don't need to have everything figured out before you start.

You just need to make the decision to begin.

If there is something you've been thinking about doing, start researching it.

You don't have to know every answer on day one.

I didn't.

I didn't know exactly where my path would lead.

I didn't know who would help me.

I didn't know how everything would be paid for.

I simply knew that I wanted to become a travel agent, so I started looking for information.

And along the way, the next step became clearer.

Don't Let Fear Stop You

Sometimes we spend so much time thinking about whether something will work that we never actually begin.

We think:

"What if I fail?"

"What if I don't have enough money?"

"What if I don't know enough?"

"What if nobody supports me?"

Those questions can keep us stuck.

Research is important. Planning is important. Understanding your finances and the risks involved is important.

But at some point, you also have to take action.

Pray, Research, and Take Action

For me, faith has been a huge part of this journey.

I prayed for direction.

I asked God to guide me and bring the right people into my path.

But I also had to do my part.

I researched.

I made phone calls.

I invested in training.

I studied.

I worked.

I talked to people about my business.

I followed up with clients.

I kept going.

Faith and action worked together for me.

Today, I'm Still Building

Today, I'm continuing to build my travel business and my clientele.

I work with individuals, families, groups, and travelers looking for different types of experiences.

My travel services include cruises, all-inclusive vacations, tours, excursions, flights, hotels, transportation, day trips, and more.

Whether someone is planning a family vacation, a group trip, a relaxing getaway, or an exciting adventure, I enjoy helping them put the pieces together.

And I'm still learning and growing along the way.

I am also building my real estate business here in Texas, so I'm excited about this next chapter and everything that is ahead.

If You're Thinking About Starting Something New...

This is the biggest message I want to leave with you:

Don't give up on your dream just because you don't know how it's going to happen yet.

Start with what you know.

Do your research.

Ask questions.

Learn.

Look for opportunities.

Be willing to invest in yourself.

And keep moving.

You may not know who will help you along the way.

You may not know where the opportunity will come from.

You may not even know exactly what the next step looks like.

But sometimes the next step appears after you take the first one.

That's what happened to me.

I was researching how to become a travel agent, and the person who helped me get started eventually came into my life through the very work I was already doing.

That experience taught me something I still carry with me:

The way may not always be visible, but that doesn't mean there isn't a way forward.

Don't Let Anyone Steal Your Joy

My journey into travel started with a simple decision.

I wanted to become a travel agent.

I took that desire seriously, did the research, invested in myself, worked hard, served my clients, and kept moving forward.

And look where that decision has taken me.

So, whatever dream you're working toward right now, don't let fear, uncertainty, or the fact that you don't have all the answers stop you.

Take the next step.

Keep learning.

Keep researching.

Keep praying.

Keep working.

And don't give up on yourself.

You never know what can happen when you finally decide to begin.

Thank you for being part of my journey, and remember: don't let anyone steal your joy! ❤️

Forgive, Let Go, and Protect Your Peace

What's up, wonderful, amazing, sweet, and lovely people? How are you all doing today? I hope you're having an amazing day and that you have decided not to let anybody steal your joy!

Welcome to MaryamsJoyfulLife blog. It's a beautiful day, and today I want to talk about forgiveness.

What does it mean to forgive?

To me, forgiveness means deciding that you are no longer going to allow the pain of what someone did to control your life. It means letting go of the hurt, betrayal, lies, disappointment, or disrespect.

Forgiving someone doesn't mean what they did was okay.

It also doesn't mean you have to bring them back into your life or give them the same access they had before they hurt you.

Sometimes forgiveness is simply saying, "You hurt me, and it was painful, but I'm choosing to let this go. I'm not going to allow what happened to control my life anymore."

I've experienced this myself. There have been people who hurt me deeply, and the more I focused on what happened, the more it hurt. But when I decided to forgive and give the pain to God, I began to feel lighter.

I realized that holding on to the hurt wasn't hurting them. It was hurting me.

Forgive, But Have Boundaries

One thing I want to make clear is that forgiveness doesn't mean becoming a doormat.

You can forgive someone and still keep your distance.

You can forgive someone and decide that the relationship will never be what it once was.

You can forgive someone without giving them the same access to your life.

Trust has to be earned.

You are valuable, loved, worthy of respect, and deserving of peace. Don't allow someone else's actions to continue stealing your joy.

Forgive them.

Let go of the pain.

Learn from what happened.

Set your boundaries.

And keep moving forward.

Sometimes forgiveness isn't about giving someone another chance. Sometimes it's about giving yourself the freedom to heal.

So today, I encourage you to choose peace. Give your hurt to God and allow yourself to move forward.

Forgive, but be wise. Love, but have boundaries. And whatever you do, don't let anybody steal your joy!

Thank you so much for checking out MaryamsJoyfulLife blog today. Until next time, keep choosing joy! ❤️

— Maryam

I Want to Encourage You

 

Keep Holding On: Everything Is Working Out

What's up, wonderful, amazing, sweet, and lovely people? 💕

Thank you so much for checking out my blog today. It’s a beautiful day, and I’m so grateful to be here with you.

I have not been as consistent with my blog as I wanted to be, but you know what? I’m glad I’m here today. Sometimes you have to give yourself grace and simply be thankful that you made it back.

And today, I want to talk to somebody who needs a little encouragement.

I want to talk about holding on, believing, and trusting God even when it seems like nothing is working out.

Don't Believe the Lie of Emptiness

Maybe you're in a situation right now where you've been trying your hardest.

You've been praying.

You've been working.

You've been taking action.

You've been doing everything you know to do.

And yet, when you look around, it seems like nothing is changing.

You may be wondering:

"When is this going to turn around?"

"How long am I going to be in this situation?"

"Did I miss something?"

"Is anything actually happening?"

I want you to know something today:

Something is changing.

Don't believe the lie of emptiness.

Sometimes when we can't see anything happening, we assume that nothing is happening.

But just because you can't see the process doesn't mean there isn't a process.

In fact, think about this:

Out of emptiness comes creation.

What looks empty today may be the very space where something new is being created.

What looks like silence may be preparation.

What looks like a delay may be positioning.

What looks like a closed door may be redirecting you toward something you couldn't see yet.

So don't give up simply because you can't see the finished product.

Keep Praying

Whatever you do, don't stop praying.

Keep talking to God.

Keep believing.

Keep asking.

Keep thanking Him.

Keep taking action.

Keep doing your best.

There is something powerful about continuing to move forward while trusting God with the outcome.

And while you're waiting, give thanks.

Thank God even before you see the answer.

Thank Him for what He's already done.

Thank Him for what He's doing behind the scenes.

Thank Him for the things you don't understand yet.

My pastor once said something that really stuck with me:

"As long as you've got a pulse, God's got a plan."

Real talk—I believe that.

And I've seen it happen in my own life.

I've Seen Things Change

There have been many situations in my life where I found myself thinking, "Is this ever going to change?"

I tried to remain hopeful, but sometimes it felt like things weren't changing fast enough.

There were moments when I almost felt like I was always going to be in that situation.

Like maybe this was just how things were going to be.

But you know what?

It changed.

It changed.

And when I look back, I can see God's faithfulness.

God has been so faithful.

There were things I couldn't see coming.

There were answers I didn't know were on the way.

There were changes that eventually happened that I couldn't have planned myself.

And that's why I'm encouraging you today:

Don't make a permanent conclusion based on a temporary situation.

Just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it isn't going to happen.

Ask Someone to Believe With You

And listen, if you need help, ask for help.

If you need someone to pray with you, ask them.

If you need someone to stand in faith with you, ask them.

If you need encouragement, ask for it.

Don't let fear, pride, embarrassment, or shame stop you from reaching out.

Sometimes God will use another person to encourage you when you're too tired to encourage yourself.

And yes, there will be people who say no.

That's okay.

Don't take every "no" as rejection.

Sometimes a "no" is simply part of the process.

Sometimes the people who don't help you are making room for the people who will.

Sometimes the door that closes is helping direct you toward another door.

And sometimes what feels like a setback is actually part of your progress.

So keep going.

It's Not Happening Too Slowly

I know how frustrating it can be when you want something to happen now.

We want the breakthrough today.

We want the answer today.

We want the change today.

We want to see evidence that our prayers are working.

But don't allow the fact that something hasn't happened yet to convince you that it will never happen.

There is a huge difference between:

"It's not happening yet"

and

"It's never going to happen."

Don't confuse the two.

Your story is still being written.

God can do something in your life so quickly that you will look back and wonder how everything changed so fast.

The thing you've been praying about may not unfold exactly the way you imagined.

It may even happen in a way that is better than what you thought to ask for.

So stay open.

Stay faithful.

Stay prayerful.

Stay hopeful.

Your Celebration Is Coming

Today, I simply want to encourage you:

It is well with you.

It's all working out.

You're doing your best.

Keep going.

Don't give up.

Don't stop.

Don't stop believing.

Don't stop praying.

Don't stop taking action.

Don't stop thanking God.

And don't let a temporary season convince you that your entire future will look like this.

It won't.

You may be closer than you realize.

Your breakthrough may be closer than you think.

Your answer may be closer than you think.

Your celebration may be closer than you think.

It could be this moment.

It could be the next minute.

The next hour.

Sometime today.

Sometime tomorrow.

I don't know exactly when your moment will come, but I know this:

Don't give up before you see what God is about to do.

Keep holding on.

Keep trusting.

Keep believing.

Keep moving.

And when you finally look back, you may realize that the season you thought was empty was actually a season where God was creating something new.

God is faithful.

And if you've got a pulse, God's got a plan. ❤️

So take a deep breath.

Pray again.

Try again.

Believe again.

Get up again.

And keep going.

Your story isn't over.

Sending you so much love today. 💕

And remember...

Don't let anybody steal your joy.

With love,
Maryam
MaryamsJoyfulLife

My Experience in Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Roswell UFO

 

What's up, wonderful, amazing, sweet, and lovely people! 💕 How are you all doing today?

I am so happy to be back with another exciting blog post on Maryamsjoyfullife Blog! Today, I want to share with you guys what we did this past weekend because, whew… we had an ADVENTURE!

So, we—meaning me and my family—decided to take a little road trip adventure to Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, and you guys, it was AMAZING!

🦇 Exploring Carlsbad Caverns

You guys… THE CAVES!

When I tell you that Carlsbad Caverns was an experience, I mean it. The caves were absolutely incredible.

There are two ways you can really experience the caves. You can take the elevator down and go to what they call the Big Room, where you get to see all these incredible formations and crystal-like sculptures that nature created over millions and millions of years.

Or, you can do the full experience and hike down into the cave from the top. And guess which one we chose? Yep… we chose the full experience! 😂

Of course, we chose the adventure!

The hike was about 2.5 miles down, going roughly 750 feet underground, and let me tell you—it was WORK!

I was carrying the baby, the big kids were walking on their own, and my sweet man was right there with us. And you guys… there were some moments where I was like, Lord, what did I get myself into? 😂

There were some sections where I was like…

"Lord, please just get me through this!" 😂

There were steep areas, dips, and places where there was literally a valley or a cliff right beside me. Now, it was pretty safe because there were railings all around, but that didn't stop me from being scared. 😂 There were times when I just did NOT want to look down.

And guess what? I didn't look down! 😂

There were moments when I was literally looking at one foot in front of me and one step in front of me because I did not want to see those dips and holes on either side of me. I was just thinking, "Let me keep moving and get to the bottom!"

Meanwhile, my sweet man was over there looking around like:

"Whoa! Whoa!"

And I'm thinking:

"Sir, please stop looking! I am trying to make it out of here!" 😂

But honestly, even though parts of it scared me, I kept going.

🌑 Deep Into the Darkness

One of the coolest things about the caverns was how DARK it could get.

There are lights, bulbs, and panels along the way, but there are also certain areas intentionally left dark because the caves are home to nocturnal animals that like their peace and darkness.

So there were spots where we actually had to use our cell phone lights to explore.

You guys…

It was REALLY DARK! 😂

Being underground, surrounded by these massive formations and trying to see what was around us with our phone lights was just CRAZY.

And the formations themselves? WOW!

They were absolutely amazing. Some of them were even named after famous characters and objects, and you could almost see the characters in the sculptures. Nature really did its thing!

Nature created these incredible sculptures over millions of years, and some of them have names inspired by recognizable characters and objects because, when you look closely, you can almost see the shapes.

It really makes you stop and appreciate just how incredible our world is.

🥵 My Legs Got A WORKOUT!

Let me tell you something else. Those steep parts of the hike were NO JOKE!

My calves? WORKED! 😂

I already work out regularly, but that hike reminded me that there is a BIG difference between working out in a gym and walking down into a gigantic underground cavern while carrying a baby. 😂

By the time we finished, my legs definitely knew they had been somewhere!

But here's what I'm proud of:

I didn't quit.

There was a point where I could have decided that I was done. I could have turned around and said, "Nope, I'm going back."

But I kept going.

Step by step.

One foot in front of the other.

Even when I was scared.

And eventually, we made it to the bottom.

When it was time to leave, we took the elevator back up—and honestly, I was VERY happy about that elevator! 😂

Would I Do the Hike Again? 😂

Now, here's the big question:

Would I go down from the top and do that hike again?

Absolutely NOT! 😂😂😂

Nope! I did it once, and I am proud of myself.

If I go back to Carlsbad Caverns again, I am taking that elevator straight down to the Big Room!

I want to enjoy the incredible formations, look around, take pictures, and enjoy myself without worrying about how steep the path is or whether there is a giant drop somewhere beside me. 😂

I'll happily take the elevator!

🍜 Dinner at Dragon Buffet in Carlsbad

After our adventure at Carlsbad Caverns, we went to a Chinese buffet in Carlsbad called Dragon Buffet.

And you guys…

The food was wonderful! Our waiter was amazing, too.

He took great care of us, and we really appreciated his service, so of course, we gave him a good tip. We had a wonderful experience.

It was the perfect way to end our big day of exploring.

👽 Next Stop: Roswell, New Mexico!

But our adventure wasn't over yet!

The next day, which was the day we checked out of our hotel in Carlsbad, we decided to drive to Roswell, New Mexico.

We had heard so much about Roswell and the famous UFO story, so we figured, why not go see it for ourselves?

It was about an hour and 30 minutes from Carlsbad to Roswell, and when we got there, we went straight into exploring.

We did a spacewalk tour, and WOW! It was beautiful!

It was beautiful and fascinating.

Then we went to the museum, and you guys, we learned SO much. We saw so many props and displays, and it was just wonderful.

I absolutely loved the experience.

Honestly, the Roswell experience could easily have been my favorite part of the entire trip.

There was just something about being there, seeing everything, and learning about the history and mystery surrounding Roswell that made me think differently.

It got me thinking about the possibility that we are not the only intelligent beings out there. The idea that there could be other beings who are not exactly like us, but kind of like us, is just mind-blowing to me.

It was just a very interesting experience, and I am so glad we decided to go.

❤️ I Didn't Quit!

Looking back at this trip, one thing really stands out to me: I am glad I didn't quit.

Yes, the caverns scared me at times.

Yes, there were moments when I didn't want to look down.

Yes, I was thinking, "Why did I agree to do this?" 😂

But I kept going until the hike ended.

And honestly, sometimes life is exactly like that.

You start something exciting, and then somewhere along the way, it gets uncomfortable. You get scared. You question yourself. You wonder if you should turn around and quit.

But sometimes you just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep going.

You don't have to see the entire path.

You just have to take the next step.

And eventually, you make it through.

🎥 We Filmed the Adventure!

Of course, we didn't just experience all of this—we filmed it too!

So if you want to see our family adventure at Carlsbad Caverns and Roswell for yourself, make sure you check out the vlog that goes along with this blog post. We filmed the experience so you guys can come along with us!

You can come along with us and see the adventure, the caves, the spacewalk, the museum, and all the fun we had as a family.

✨ Go Add Some Adventure to Your Life!

Overall, our weekend was SO MUCH FUN!

I am so grateful that we got to experience something new together as a family.

We explored.

We learned.

We laughed.

We got a little scared.

We ate good food.

And most importantly, we created memories.

That's one thing I want to encourage you guys to do: ADD SOME ADVENTURE TO YOUR LIFE!

You don't always have to travel across the world.

Sometimes an adventure is just a road trip to somewhere you've never been.

Sometimes it's visiting a national park.

Sometimes it's trying a new restaurant.

Sometimes it's taking your kids somewhere they've never been.

Just get out there and EXPERIENCE LIFE! Make memories with your family. Try something new. Take that road trip. Visit that place you've been talking about visiting.

You never know what memories you'll create.

Thank you so much for checking out Maryamsjoyfullife Blog today. I appreciate every single one of you for spending a little bit of your time with me and my family.

Have an amazing day, keep exploring, keep living, keep smiling, and most importantly…

DON'T LET ANYBODY STEAL YOUR JOY! ❤️

Until next time,

— Maryamsjoyfullife 

Don’t Give Up Just Because It’s Taking Longer Than You Expected

 

What’s up, wonderful, amazing, sweet, and lovely people?!

How are you all doing today? I hope you're having an absolutely amazing day and, most importantly, I hope you're not allowing anybody to steal your joy!

Welcome back to Maryam’s Joyful Life Blog! 💕✨

It is such a beautiful day, and I’m excited to be sharing this post with you today. I wanted to take some time to catch you all up on what I’ve been doing, what I’ve been learning, and what has been on my heart lately.

Two Months in Texas! 🤠

We have officially been in Texas for about two months now, and it has been such a fun experience!

One of the biggest things that has happened since moving here is that I received my Texas real estate license! 🎉

It has been so exciting getting out there, showing houses, taking clients to different properties, meeting new people, and learning the real estate market here in Texas.

Starting over in a new place and starting a new business is exciting—but let me tell you something:

Starting a new business is NOT easy!

It takes work.

It takes commitment.

It takes consistency.

It takes excitement even when you aren't seeing the results you expected to see yet.

And sometimes, it can be frustrating.

You may have this vision in your mind of how quickly everything is supposed to happen. You may think, “I started this, so why isn't it taking off yet?”

I understand that feeling.

But one thing I am learning is this:

Just because something is moving slowly doesn't mean it isn't working.

Sometimes, you have to remind yourself:

"I'm just getting started."

"I'm learning."

"I'm building."

"I'm planting seeds."

"It's all working out in my favor."

What Do You Do When Things Feel Slow?

When things aren't moving as quickly as I want them to, I try to catch myself before I allow frustration to take over.

I remind myself:

You cannot be ungrateful.

Even when things are slow, there is still something to be thankful for.

I have learned that gratitude changes your perspective.

Instead of constantly focusing on what hasn't happened yet, I can look around and recognize everything that has happened.

I'm in Texas.

I have my Texas real estate license.

I'm meeting new people.

I'm showing properties.

I'm learning.

I'm growing.

I'm building something new.

There is still so much to be grateful for!

And I believe something good is going to come out of this season.

God has a plan.

Are You Trying to Get Ahead of God?

This is something I've been thinking about lately, and maybe it is something you need to think about too.

What is happening in your life right now that seems slow?

Is there something you've been working on for a long time?

Something you thought would have happened by now?

Something you're tempted to give up on because you're thinking, “I've been doing this for too long. Maybe it's not going to work.”

Before you quit, ask yourself:

Have I prayed about it?

Have I meditated on it?

Have I really sat down and evaluated the situation?

Could it be that you're in a hurry?

Could it be that you're trying to get ahead of God?

God has a plan, but sometimes we want everything to happen according to our timeline.

We want it now.

We want the results now.

We want the breakthrough now.

But what if there is something God wants you to learn in this season?

What if you're being prepared for something bigger?

What if the blessing is closer than you think?

What if you're literally just one step away from seeing something change?

What if you just need to stay a little longer?

Pray About It

One of the best things we can do when we don't understand what is happening is pray.

You don't have to have all the answers.

You don't have to pretend that you're not frustrated.

You don't have to pretend that you know exactly what to do.

You can simply say:

"Lord, I don't understand why this is moving so slowly. I want this to work out, and I don't know what to do next. I need Your help. Please guide me. Show me what I need to learn. Show me what I need to change. Help me recognize the opportunities in front of me. Give me wisdom and strength to keep going."

Sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to figure everything out.

But when we bring God into every area of our lives, the pressure comes off of us.

We can remind ourselves that there is Someone greater than us who created us.

Someone who knows our beginning, our middle, and our end.

Someone who knows the blueprint of our lives.

And God's grace is available to help us navigate every season.

Keep Going—But Keep Thinking

I want to encourage you today:

Don't quit just because it's taking longer than you expected.

Trust God.

Pray.

Take action.

Pay attention.

Evaluate what's working and what's not working.

Be willing to make adjustments.

And be watchful of what's happening around you.

You don't have to follow every trend just because everyone else is doing it.

Think for yourself.

Pray about your decisions.

Use wisdom.

Take action.

And if something doesn't work?

Learn from it.

Don't automatically call it a failure.

You can declare:

“Something good is going to come out of this.”

Maybe the experience taught you something.

Maybe it introduced you to someone.

Maybe it redirected you.

Maybe it showed you what you don't want.

Maybe it prepared you for the next opportunity.

Sometimes what looks like failure is actually information, preparation, and redirection.

Shift Your Focus

One thing I truly believe is that great things can happen when you shift your focus from what is missing to where you are going.

Instead of constantly asking:

"Why don't I have it yet?"

Ask:

"What can I do today to move closer to where I want to be?"

Instead of saying:

"Nothing is happening."

Ask:

"What is happening that I may not be noticing?"

Instead of saying:

"It's taking too long."

Tell yourself:

"I'm still building."

Your current situation is not necessarily your final destination.

Keep moving.

Keep learning.

Keep praying.

Keep believing.

Keep taking action.

And most importantly, don't let anybody steal your joy along the way!I Created Something for You 💕

I know that not everyone can afford one-on-one time with me or a personal consultation.

And I understand that sometimes you don't necessarily need someone to do everything for you—you just need a blueprint, a pattern, and some step-by-step guidance to help you organize your thoughts and stay focused.

That's why I created a simple blueprint that I am making available to you for just $1!

It's designed to help you organize your mind, focus on your goals, identify what you're working through, and create a plan for moving forward.

You can download it directly, print as many copies as you need, and use it as you work through your own situation.

If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about your next step, this may be a simple resource that can help you get focused again.

👉 Get the blueprint for just $1:Get My Blueprint Today!

What's Next for Maryam's Joyful Life?

There is so much happening, and I'm excited to continue sharing the journey with you!

Make sure you're keeping up with all of my videos, because I'll continue sharing my life, my experiences, my lessons, my faith, business, real estate journey, travel, family, and everything in between.

And, of course, don't forget about the travel business! ✈️🌴

We have lots of travel deals and vacation opportunities available, so if you're ready to plan your next getaway, be sure to check out my website.

You can also visit Maryam's Joyful Life to explore products, courses, resources, and other things I've created to help you live a more joyful, purposeful, and fulfilling life.

Final Thoughts

Whatever you're going through right now, I want you to remember this:

Slow does not mean impossible.

Waiting does not mean forgotten.

A setback does not mean it's over.

And a closed door does not mean there isn't another door coming.

Pray about it.

Trust God.

Take action.

Learn.

Adjust.

Keep going.

And don't allow temporary circumstances to convince you that your story is over.

You never know what could be waiting for you just around the corner.

Your breakthrough could be closer than you think.

Thank you so much for spending some time with me today. I appreciate every single one of you who reads my blog, watches my videos, supports my businesses, and follows along with my journey.

Keep believing.

Keep building.

Keep moving forward.

And whatever you do...

DON'T LET ANYBODY STEAL YOUR JOY! 💕✨

With love,

Maryam

Maryam’s Joyful Life

Do It Afraid: My Journey from Georgia to Texas

 

What's up, wonderful, amazing, sweet, and lovely people?

How are you all doing today? I hope you're having an amazing day and that you're not letting anybody steal your joy!

Welcome to MaryamsJoyfulLife.

Today is a beautiful day, and I am so excited to be back! I've taken a little break from blogging for the past couple of weeks. It wasn't completely intentional, but it was probably partially intentional. I've been so busy preparing to move from Georgia to Texas that I just didn't have the energy or inspiration to keep blogging.

There was so much to think about—the packing, the planning, the emotions, and the transition into a completely new chapter of life. At times, blogging felt like one more thing on my already full plate, so I gave myself permission to take a break.

But I'm back now, and I'm so glad to be here with you all!

We finally made the move, and now we're officially in Texas!

Today, I want to share something that happened to me before and during this journey. It's something many of us face: fear.

For those of you who know, driving from Georgia to Texas is no small trip. Depending on where you're leaving from, it can take anywhere from 18 to 25 hours. I had never driven that kind of distance before, and honestly, the thought of it overwhelmed me.

I started asking myself all kinds of questions.

"Can I really do this?"

"Should I just fly?"

"Should we hire someone else to move everything?"

The more I thought about it, the more anxious I became.

After looking at the logistics, we realized it would cost a lot more money for someone else to handle everything. Still, the fear remained. I kept thinking about the distance, the responsibility, and everything that could potentially go wrong.

But instead of allowing myself to stay stuck in worry, I started praying.

I committed the entire move into God's hands.

I prayed, "Lord, help us. Be with us. Guide us. Protect us. Thank You for Your mercy and grace."

When moving day finally arrived, I was definitely nervous. But at the same time, I was excited. My sweet man had already been in Texas for about a month and had prepared a place for us. I was excited to see our new home and begin a new chapter.

Georgia had been my home for years.

I went to college there.

I got married there.

I got divorced there.

I had all of my children there.

So leaving Georgia felt both exciting and scary.

As we drove, there were moments when fear would suddenly hit me. I would find myself staring ahead and thinking, "Oh my goodness, what am I doing?"

The fear would come out of nowhere.

But every time it did, I prayed.

I spoke the name of Jesus.

I would say, "Blood of Jesus."

I would remind myself that I was covered and protected.

I kept praying throughout the trip, throughout the journey, and throughout the drive.

And guess what?

We made it.

God saw us through.

His mercy and grace were more than enough.

Looking back now, I'm still amazed.

Sometimes I think, "Wow... I really did that."

How did I do it?

I know it was by the grace of God and because I kept moving forward despite the fear.

I didn't wait for the fear to disappear.

I moved anyway.

And that's the encouragement I want to leave with you today.

Maybe you've been wanting to make a change for years.

Maybe you've been wanting to move.

Start a business.

Take a trip.

Go back to school.

Apply for that job.

Launch that dream.

But fear has kept you stuck in the same place.

I want to encourage you today:

Do it afraid.

Don't wait until you feel completely confident.

Don't wait until every question has been answered.

Don't wait until fear disappears.

Take the step anyway.

It's better to move forward with fear than to stay in the same place wondering "what if" for the rest of your life.

You might be surprised by what you're capable of accomplishing once you start moving.

Pray.

Trust God.

Take action.

And watch what happens.

Fear may show up, but it doesn't have to be in charge.

Today, I encourage you to stop procrastinating.

Take action on that dream.

Take that vacation.

Start that project.

Make that move.

Have that conversation.

Whatever it is that God has placed on your heart, pray about it and go for it.

You are stronger than you think.

You are more capable than you realize.

And with God's help, you can do more than you ever imagined.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and spending a little time with me.

I'm so happy to be back, and I can't wait to share more of this journey with you.

Until next time, don't let anybody steal your joy!

With love,

MaryamsJoyfulLife

Give Without Expectations

 What’s up, wonderful, amazing, sweet, and lovely people? How are you all doing today? I hope you’re having an amazing day today and I hope you know that nothing is stealing your joy. Welcome to MaryamsJoyfulLife. It’s a beautiful day today, and I’ve just been sitting with a thought that’s been weighing on my heart lately: what does sacrifice really mean?

What does it mean to sacrifice for those you love?

One thing I know for sure is this—sacrifice is not easy. It is not convenient. It is not comfortable. It is not something we naturally jump into with excitement. And yet, even with all of that, I also believe the reward is great. The reward is beautiful. The reward is massive in ways we may not even fully understand in the moment.

Over the past months, weeks, and even years, I’ve found myself sacrificing a lot. And I won’t lie to you—it has not been easy. There have been moments when I wanted to quit. Moments when I said, “You know what? I don’t need to do this. I don’t have to do this for this person. I don’t want to do this anymore.”

But even after saying all of that… I still go back.

I still help.

I still think through the situation and ask myself: What if I don’t help them right now, knowing they have a need? What would they do? Where would they go? How would I feel if I were in their shoes?

And the truth is—I’ve been in those shoes before.

There were times in my life when I needed help and the people I expected to show up… didn’t. I had to figure it out. I had to find a way. I had to pray. I had to call on God. And God made a way for me when I couldn’t see one.

And then I remember—there were also times when people did sacrifice for me. People showed up when I needed it most. So I think about all of that when I’m faced with the decision to help someone else.

But let’s be honest—our minds don’t always make it easy.

There are thoughts that come in saying, “They won’t help you back. You’re wasting your time. Don’t do it.” And there’s this whole inner argument happening. Chaos in the mind. Back and forth. Give or don’t give. Help or don’t help.

And then I calm myself down.

Have you seen my latest vlog?

And I remind myself of this truth:

If I help right now because I see a need, even if they never help me back, God will still raise someone to help me when I need it. God will still make a way for me. God will still open doors for me. God will still provide for me in ways I cannot even predict.

Because at the end of the day, my life is not dependent on people—it is dependent on God.

So instead of focusing on whether or not people will reciprocate, I choose peace.

Because it is honestly stressful to live your life calculating who will pay you back and who won’t. You cannot control people. You cannot force people. You cannot give just so you can receive something in return. And when you try to do that, it often leads to disappointment, frustration, and chaos in relationships.

We’ve all seen it. We’ve all experienced it in one way or another. Helping someone and expecting something back… only to be disappointed.

So I had to learn this:

I do it as unto God, not unto man.

If they help me back someday, fine. If they don’t, I will be okay. Because I trust that God will make a way for me regardless. I trust that God will continue to elevate my life and bring beauty out of every season.

That is what sacrifice really means to me.\It means giving without holding expectations over people’s heads.

It means opening your heart, even when it’s hard.

It means trusting that God sees you, God knows you, and God will take care of you.

And yes, sacrifice takes courage. It takes strength. It takes real guts to give when you don’t know what will come back to you.

But here’s the encouragement I want to leave with you today:

When you sacrifice and give, it is never wasted. It comes back. It may not come from the person you helped, but it will come back. God has a way of bringing blessings—good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.

So don’t worry about who will return the favor. Don’t let that steal your joy. Don’t let that stop you from being kind, loving, and generous when you are able.

And at the same time, be wise. Ask God for guidance. Don’t put yourself in a harmful situation trying to prove something or trying to please people when you don’t have the capacity. If you can do it, do it. If you can’t, it is okay to say no. You are not God.

Sacrifice is not about losing yourself—it’s about trusting God while still walking in wisdom.

So today, I just want to remind you:

Sacrifice is not easy.

Don’t stress about who will or won’t reciprocate.

And trust that God will always send the right people into your life at the right time.

Let your heart stay open.

Let your peace stay protected.

And don’t let anybody steal your joy.

I Stopped Before I Did Something I Would Regret

 Humility, Wisdom, and Letting Go of Pride

What’s up, wonderful, amazing, sweet, and lovely people? How are you all doing today? I hope you all are having an amazing day today, and I hope nobody steals your joy. Welcome to MaryamsjoyfulLife. It’s a beautiful day today, and I’m super excited to be here with you all. God is good!

Today, I want to talk about humility. Humility and flushing away pride.

Recently, I had a difficult experience with someone very close to me — a family member. During a conversation, there were misunderstandings, hurtful words, and disrespectful things said that I honestly never expected to hear. It hurt deeply because this was someone close to my heart.

At first, I was ready to respond publicly. I filmed a whole video about the situation. I talked about how I felt, expressed my frustration, prayed during the video, edited it, and got everything ready to post.

Have you seen my latest vlog?

But before I hit that “post” button, I paused.

I started asking myself some hard questions:

Am I proud of this video?

What am I truly trying to gain from posting this?

Will this help anyone?

Or am I simply trying to satisfy my ego?

How will this affect the people I’m talking about?

Is this coming from wisdom… or from anger?

And when I sat with those questions, I realized something important:

I didn’t need to post the video.

The truth is, I was acting out of hurt, anger, pride, and emotion. I realized that just because I have a platform doesn’t mean I should use it to react emotionally. Sometimes pride makes us feel like we need to prove a point, defend ourselves publicly, or expose people just because we can.

But wisdom tells us to pause.

Wisdom tells us to think before we speak.

Wisdom reminds us that not every battle deserves an audience.

I realized that making that video would not bring me peace. It would not heal me. It would not make my life better. It would only temporarily feed my emotions, and later I probably would have regretted it.

So I chose differently.

I decided there are some things I can handle privately and quietly. Some decisions don’t need an announcement. Some healing happens in secret. Some boundaries can simply be set without broadcasting them to the world.

Now, if there’s ever something I truly feel led to share in a mature and wise way — something that could genuinely help others — then maybe one day I will. But I refuse to speak from a place of spite, bitterness, or emotional heat.

I want to lead with wisdom.

The Bible says wisdom is profitable to direct. And that’s exactly what I want guiding my life — not pride, not anger, not ego, not revenge.

Sometimes wisdom sounds like: “Just wait.” “Don’t react yet.” “Don’t let your emotions control you.” “Don’t let pride make decisions for you.”

And honestly, sometimes wisdom says: “Let them.”

If they misunderstand you, let them.

If they think they’re winning, let them.

If they want to talk, let them.

But you?

You stay focused.

Do not waste your precious energy trying to prove yourself, get revenge, or show people you’re stronger. Use that energy to actually become stronger. Use it to grow. Use it to heal. Use it to protect your peace and your joy.

How often do we allow people — people who don’t even live with us, people who may be miles or continents away — to control our happiness and steal our peace?

We cannot keep doing that.

We have too much to be grateful for to allow emotional connections, drama, and negativity to consume us.

I’m learning to keep my focus and be more reasonable because I don’t want anybody to steal my joy — and I also don’t want to be the one who steals my own joy through emotional reactions.

So today, I want to encourage you with something I heard from Mel Robbins in her book The Let Them Theory:

“Let them.”

Let them think what they want.

Let them misunderstand you.

Let them underestimate you.

And you? You continue becoming who God called you to be.

Lead with wisdom. Choose humility over pride. Choose peace over proving a point. Choose healing over emotional reactions.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. You all are amazing, sweet, and lovely people.

And remember: Don’t let anybody steal your joy.