MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY- Welcome to Living by the Sunshine | Overcoming Fear & Living Your Best Life

☀️ WELCOME TO LIVING BY THE SUNSHINE!!!

Hi, sunshine! ☀️

My name is Beatriz D. Rivero, and I’m 30 years old.

And somehow, I have had this blog for over a decade.

Yes… you read that correctly.

A decade.

I honestly couldn't remember exactly when I started it, so naturally, I did what any responsible adult would do…

I went digging through my own blog archives. 😂

And guess what I found?

March 31, 2014.

I conquered my laziness, y’all! 😂

Which means I started this blog when I was still in high school because, fun fact, I graduated high school in June of 2014.

And now here I am, all these years later, still writing.

Except…

I’m not the same girl who started this blog.

Not even close.

And that's actually what Living by the Sunshine is all about.

---

🌻 BEFORE THE ACCIDENT

Before my accident, I had a lot on my mind.

I had dreams.

Opinions.

Things I wanted to say.

Things I wanted to do.

But there was one little problem…

I was shy.

Like, really shy.

I often worried about what people thought of me.

Would people judge me?

Would they think I was weird?

Would they disagree with me?

Would they laugh?

So sometimes, instead of doing what I wanted to do, I stayed quiet.

I played it safe.

I kept certain thoughts to myself.

And honestly?

I let fear make decisions for me.

Then life changed.

---

🚗 THE ACCIDENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

On May 22, 2015, when I was 19 years old, I was involved in a car accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury.

And no…

I'm not going to pretend that everything magically became perfect afterward.

It didn't.

Recovery came with challenges I never expected.

There were things I had to relearn.

Things that became harder.

Things I had to adapt to.

And there were days when I wondered what my life was going to look like now.

But something else happened too.

The shy girl started disappearing.

I don't even know exactly when it happened.

Maybe surviving something that completely changed my life gave me a different perspective.

Maybe I realized that life is way too short to spend it constantly worrying about other people's opinions.

Maybe I simply stopped caring as much.

Whatever it was…

Something changed.

I started speaking up.

I started putting myself out there.

I started sharing my story.

I started trying things I never thought I would.

And most importantly…

I started living.

---

🌞 WHAT DOES “LIVING BY THE SUNSHINE” EVEN MEAN?

It doesn't mean my life is always sunshine and rainbows.

Because let's be honest…

Sometimes life is messy.

Sometimes you cry.

Sometimes you get frustrated.

Sometimes your plans fall apart.

Sometimes you take three steps forward and somehow end up taking five steps backward.

Sometimes you have absolutely no idea what you're doing.

And sometimes you just need to eat something, take a nap, and try again tomorrow. 😂

Living by the Sunshine isn't about pretending the darkness doesn't exist.

It's about remembering that the sun is still there.

Even when you can't see it.

For me, sunshine represents hope, growth, resilience, courage, and new beginnings.

It represents choosing to find something good even when life doesn't go according to plan.

It means learning how to live your life instead of constantly waiting for your life to become perfect.

---

💛 THIS IS YOUR REMINDER TO STOP PLAYING SMALL

If you're reading this because you're afraid to start something…

Start.

If you're afraid people will judge you…

Let them.

If you're waiting until you're confident enough…

You might be waiting forever.

Confidence doesn't always come before you do something.

Sometimes confidence comes because you did it scared.

I know that now.

I've learned that overcoming fear doesn't necessarily mean that you stop being afraid.

It means you decide that your fear doesn't get to control your life anymore.

And trust me…

I'm still learning this lesson myself.

I'm still becoming the woman I want to be.

I'm still figuring things out.

I'm still making mistakes.

I'm still growing.

And that's okay.

Because life isn't about becoming a perfect version of yourself.

It's about becoming a more authentic version of yourself.

---

🌻 WHY I CREATED LIVING BY THE SUNSHINE

This blog is my little corner of the internet where I can talk about life, growth, recovery, confidence, relationships, adulthood, travel, self-discovery, surviving difficult seasons, and everything in between.

Sometimes we'll talk about serious things.

Sometimes we'll talk about completely random things.

Sometimes I'll share lessons I've learned from surviving a traumatic brain injury.

Sometimes I'll talk about things I'm currently struggling with.

And sometimes…

I'll probably just tell you about something ridiculous that happened to me. 😂

Because that's real life.

I don't want Living by the Sunshine to be a place where I pretend I have everything figured out.

I want it to be a place where we can say:

“I'm still figuring it out too.”

---

☀️ YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT

If you've been waiting for the “right time” to start living your life…

This is your sign.

Start the blog. Apply for the job. Take the trip. Make the video. Start the business. Wear the outfit. Say what you mean. Try the hobby. Make the first move. Set the boundary. Chase the dream. Take the picture. Post the thing. Do the thing you've been talking yourself out of.

And if you're scared?

Do it scared.

Because one day, you might look back and realize that the thing you were so afraid of was actually the beginning of something beautiful.

---

🌞 WELCOME TO YOUR NEW FAVORITE CORNER OF THE INTERNET

So…

Welcome to Living by the Sunshine. 🌻

Welcome to my little corner of the internet.

Welcome to the lessons, the laughs, the setbacks, the glow-ups, the questionable decisions, the adventures, and all the moments in between.

I'm Beatriz.

I'm 30.

I'm a writer, a social worker, a creator, a survivor, a dreamer, and a woman who is still becoming.

And after everything I've been through, I've learned one thing:

You don't have to wait for life to become perfect before you start enjoying it.

You just have to learn how to find your sunshine.

And sometimes…

you have to become your own sunshine. ☀️

So if you've been waiting for permission to live YOUR best life…

Consider this your permission slip.

Welcome to Living by the Sunshine.

I'm so glad you're here. 💛

Now let's see where this journey takes us. 🌻

---

     💬 YOUR TURN

What's something you've been afraid to do that you've always wanted to try?

Tell me in the comments.

And remember:

Slowed doesn't mean stopped.

Setbacks don't mean the story is over.

And your best days don't have to be behind you.

☀️ Keep finding your sunshine.

Healing Isn't About Becoming Who You Used to Be—It's About Becoming Someone New

YOUTUBE AUDIO VERSION HERE... https://youtu.be/etYqmf5BotI 

Don't forget to like, comment and share... 😁😁😁

Good time of day, beautiful people!

    I hope you're all having a wonderful day.

    Today, I want to talk about something that took me years to truly understand: 

healing isn't about becoming the person you were before. It's about becoming someone new.

    For the longest time, I thought healing meant getting my old life back. I wanted to be the person I was before my traumatic brain injury. I wanted to think the same, feel the same, and live the same life I once had.

    But over time, I realized something important.

    The old version of me no longer exists—and that's okay.

    The goal was never to become who I used to be. The goal was to discover who I could become.

    Before my injury, I honestly didn't pay much attention to taking care of myself. I was heavier, I didn't always make my health a priority, and I often went through life without thinking much about my physical or mental well-being. I wasn't intentionally neglecting myself—I just didn't realize how important self-care truly was.

    Life has a way of teaching us lessons we never expected to learn.

    My recovery forced me to slow down. It forced me to appreciate the little victories that most people take for granted. It taught me patience, resilience, gratitude, and determination. It also taught me that every small decision matters.

    Today, I exercise because I want my body to be stronger.

    I make healthier choices because I respect what my body has overcome.

    I celebrate progress instead of chasing perfection.

    And perhaps the biggest lesson of all is this: I'm no longer trying to become the old me.

    I'm becoming someone stronger.

    Someone wiser.

    Someone more compassionate.

    Someone who values every sunrise, every conversation, every step forward, and every opportunity to grow.

    Healing doesn't erase what happened.

    Healing doesn't pretend life is the same.

    Healing transforms you into someone who can carry your experiences with strength instead of fear.

    No matter what you're healing from—a brain injury, the loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, anxiety, depression, or simply a season of life that changed you—you don't have to spend your energy trying to recreate the person you once were.

    Give yourself permission to become someone new.

    You may discover that this new version of yourself is more resilient than you ever imagined.

    Maybe you're kinder.

    Maybe you're more patient.

    Maybe you've learned to appreciate the little things.

    Maybe you've found a purpose you never would have discovered otherwise.

    Growth can be uncomfortable because it asks us to let go of what is familiar. But every season of growth also gives us the opportunity to become someone we are proud of.

    So today, I want to leave you with this thought:

Stop asking, "How do I get my old life back?"

    Instead, ask yourself,

"Who am I becoming because of everything I've been through?"

    The answer might surprise you.

    Thank you for taking a few minutes out of your day to spend them with me.

    Until next time, keep moving forward, keep believing in yourself, and remember:

Healing isn't about becoming who you used to be. It's about becoming someone new. And that new person may be your greatest masterpiece yet.

Let's Talk About It... ; CHANGE

Good Time of Day, Beautiful People!

I hope you're all having a fantastic day.

Today, I want to talk about change in life—whether that change is physical, emotional, financial, or even the rapid advancements in technology that seem to appear overnight. Change can be exciting, but it can also be uncomfortable and, at times, even frightening.

These are the steps I took—and continue to take—to better understand and embrace the inevitable future.

1. Acknowledge the Changes That Are Occurring

Sometimes change is difficult. We may try to ignore it, resist it, or wish things would go back to the way they were. The first step is simply recognizing that change is happening and accepting that it is a natural part of life.

2. Allow Yourself to Feel

Every change brings emotions. It is okay to feel scared, uncertain, frustrated, or even excited. Give yourself permission to experience those feelings without judgment.

3. Focus on What You Can Control

Life often presents circumstances beyond our control. Instead of spending energy on what you cannot change, focus on your attitude, your actions, and the choices available to you today.

4. Stay Curious and Keep Learning

Whether it's new technology, a career change, or a new stage of life, learning helps reduce fear. Ask questions, seek information, and remain open to new perspectives.

5. Take Small Steps Forward

You don't have to have everything figured out at once. Progress happens one step at a time. Small actions build confidence and create momentum.

6. Lean on Your Support System

Friends, family, mentors, support groups, and communities can provide encouragement and guidance during periods of change. You do not have to navigate everything alone.

7. Reflect on Past Challenges

Think about difficult situations you have already overcome. Chances are, you've adapted before and can do it again. Your past resilience is proof of your strength.

8. Find the Opportunity Within the Change

While not every change is welcome, many changes carry lessons, growth, and opportunities we could not have seen beforehand. Sometimes our greatest transformations begin with unexpected circumstances.

9. Practice Gratitude

Even during uncertain times, there is usually something worth appreciating. Gratitude helps shift our focus from what we've lost to what remains possible.

10. Remember That Growth Requires Change

Just as a caterpillar must change to become a butterfly, we often need to move through uncomfortable transitions to become who we are meant to be.

Final Thoughts

Change is one of the few guarantees in life. While we may not always welcome it, we can choose how we respond to it. By acknowledging change, learning from it, and moving forward one step at a time, we give ourselves the opportunity to grow into stronger, wiser, and more resilient versions of ourselves.

As a traumatic brain injury survivor, life has taught me that change isn't always about losing who you were before the change occurred. Instead, it's about understanding that you are becoming a stronger version of yourself. It's about recognizing all of the new in your life and allowing it in, regardless of what you expected or planned. It also means letting go of anything that may be holding you back from becoming the person you are meant to be.

I've learned that some of life's greatest blessings arrive disguised as change. While we often focus on what we're leaving behind, we sometimes forget to appreciate what we're moving toward. Growth may not always be comfortable, but it is often necessary.

The future is coming whether we're ready or not. My goal is not to fear it, but to learn, adapt, and embrace the possibilities it brings.

Until next time, I'll keep you all in my prayers. Keep living by the sunshine, stay safe, stay positive, and always keep smiling.

– BDR

Easter, Renewal, Gratitude & Growth

    The Meaning of Easter Doesn’t End on Sunday

Easter came and went—but I’ve been sitting with a thought ever since…

What if Easter isn’t meant to be just one day?

What if it’s something we carry with us?

For so many people, Easter represents renewal, hope, and new beginnings. But real life doesn’t magically reset overnight. Healing takes time. Growth takes patience. And sometimes, the “new version” of ourselves looks nothing like we expected.

I know that Jesus gave His life so we could live freely… but it made me stop and ask myself—what does “freedom” really mean?

Is it just physical freedom? Or is it mental, emotional, and spiritual too?

Because the truth is, even when we’re not physically held back, so many of us are still carrying things that keep us stuck—fear, anxiety, past trauma, doubt, or even the opinions of others.

The other day, I came across a story about someone facing serious consequences over something they shared online—and it really made me pause. Not just about external freedom, but about how fragile it can feel in today’s world.

(Food for thought.)

And it made me reflect even deeper—how often do we silence ourselves, shrink ourselves, or hold ourselves back, even without anyone forcing us to?

This year, I’ve been especially grateful—not just for the big wins, but for the small ones.

The quiet moments. The strength I didn’t know I had. The progress that no one else sees.

Because real growth doesn’t always look loud or obvious. Sometimes it looks like getting through the day. Sometimes it looks like choosing to keep going when it would be easier to give up.

Easter reminds us that even after the darkest moments, something new can grow.

Not instantly. Not perfectly. But faithfully, over time.

And sometimes… that growth is us.

So even though Easter Sunday has passed, I’m choosing to carry its meaning forward. I’m choosing gratitude. I’m choosing patience. I’m choosing to believe that where I am right now is part of something bigger.

Because new beginnings don’t have an expiration date.

They happen every single day we decide to keep going.

💛

Entering the final month of this decade in my life...

Good time of day beauties!

& With that… the last year of my 20s will be over in a little over a month.

This decade for me has been filled with beautiful moments, good times, hard times, and seasons that tested me beyond measures.

My 20s were not at all what I imagined they would be. I remember sometime in my late teens I had planned everything out: I would get my bachelors by 20, my masters by 24. Sometimes life doesn’t work by our schedule. Sometimes we have to just let go of who we thought we were going to be to walk into our ideal, destined-to-be self.

As this decade comes to a close, I’m not looking back at it with regret, but with gratitude. To both myself pre-TBI & the version of me who survived what she didn’t think she could.

If my 20s taught me something, it is to never give up on yourself. It taught me that community is very important as well as keeping the light kind. Your stories can give hope to others going through the same situations.

Trust me, as I enter my 30s, I don’t by far have everything figured out & you know what? THAT’S OKAY. What I do have is clarity on what is important & valuable.

So, here’s to the final chapter of my 20s.

(The bridge to who I was & who I am still becoming.)

& maybe that’s what we all need — space to grow into ourselves.

2026: The year of NEW.

 

Good time of day!!! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I hope you all had an amazing time! I also hope you find yourself ready to grow and become the best version of yourself this year!! 

Let’s start with this reminder: beginning the year with a positive mindset matters—but if you haven’t quite found your groove yet, that’s okay. You still have 360 days left to try, adjust, restart, and get it right. There is no deadline on becoming who you’re meant to be.

And if you ever need a cheerleader—someone to encourage you, push you, and remind you of your strength—I am here. 😁✨

Before we go any further, I want to ask you something—
When you picture this year coming to an end, how do you want to feel?
Stronger? More at peace? Proud of how far you’ve come? More aligned with who you truly are?
Sometimes the most important changes begin with simply asking ourselves the right question.

For me personally, I’ve declared this year the year of “NEW.”
New beginnings. New goals. New courage. New growth.

Here’s why:

1. I’m entering a new decade of my life—30.
Scary? Absolutely. Exciting? Also yes. This feels like a chapter where everything I’ve learned finally starts to make sense.

2. By the end of this year, my book “It Took a TBI” will finally be published.
This project has lived in my heart for nearly 10 years, quietly waiting while life happened. This year, I’m no longer putting it in the backseat. It’s time.

3. I’m committed to growing my support group, Finding Sunshine.
My goal is to reach more survivors and more people in need—creating a space for hope, connection, and healing. This journey is also helping me step more confidently into my path in social work… and who knows, I might even dive into getting my Master’s degree.

This year isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, choosing growth, and allowing yourself to become something new—again and again.

So I’ll leave you with this:
What is one thing you’re ready to release—and one thing you’re ready to welcome in this year?

Let me know in the comments!

Here’s to fresh starts, brave decisions, and a year full of purpose. 🌱✨

Don't forget to Follow this blog and make sure to subscribe to my Youtube, @Beatrizpilarr96"

💛, Beatriz Pilar!