Fall Is a Reminder That Nothing Is Forever | Embracing Change, Healing & Growth

 Good morning, afternoon, or evening!

I hope this post finds you living your best life!!

The weather is changing—at least here in Miami. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still hot and humid AF, but the weather has a different feeling to it.

Ever since I was a little girl, fall has always been my favorite season of the year. When I was a kid, it was mainly because of Halloween. But now, it’s because I enjoy seeing the seasons change. There’s something about watching the world around us transition that I really love.

Let me know in the comments: Do you enjoy fall?

It helps me remember that nothing is forever. And I want you to think of that in a positive way.

What comes to your mind when I say, “Nothing is forever”? Let me know in the comments below.

For example, for me, surviving a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a perfect example.

There was a time when I was practically dead. But thankfully, after countless days and hours of therapy and prayers…

LOOK AT ME NOW!

(I’m getting paper. 😂 Sorry, the millennial in me had to say that.)

But seriously, I still have ways to go.

And that’s okay.

So, I want to take this time to tell you all that no matter what season you are currently in—whether it’s a season of healing, growing, or starting over—I truly believe you can make it through.

You may not stay in that season forever. You may grow from it, learn from it, and eventually move into a greater version of yourself.

And honestly, sometimes the season we are in isn’t necessarily a bad one. Sometimes it’s simply preparing us for what comes next.

By the way, if you’re comfortable sharing your current season, let me know in the comments below. 🌻

Thank you for spending this time with me!

Please make sure to like this post, and let me know where you are reading from!

And, as always, keep living by the Sunshine 🔆.

P.S. My ideal content calendar for next week is going to be…

Monday – Monopoly Monday + a motivational blog post, so keep an eye out for that!

Tuesday – TBI Bestie short on TikTok 🔗

Wednesday – YouTube upload 🔗

Thursday – TBI Bestie short on TikTok 🔗

Friday – Blog post right here…

(Unless I burn myself out before then… Let’s hope not. 😂)

Love ya! ❤️

And if you ever need me or someone to listen to you, just send me a message. My inbox is always open.

Until next time, keep finding your sunshine. 🔆

-BDR 

(@beatrizpilarr)

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.

More Than a Game: What FIFA Taught Me About Peace, Unity, and Humanity

 

                    

Good time of day, beautiful people! ☀️

I hope you're all having a fantastic day.

If you've been following my journey over the last few weeks, you already know I've completely fallen in love with the atmosphere surrounding the FIFA Club World Cup here in Miami. From the Fan Fest to meeting supporters from all over the world, I've had the opportunity to witness something that goes far beyond ninety minutes on a soccer field.

I've heard conversations in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and languages I couldn't even identify. I've seen strangers celebrate together after incredible goals. I've watched people wearing different jerseys laugh, dance, and take pictures together. For a little while, it didn't seem to matter where anyone came from. What mattered was that we were all there because we shared a love for the beautiful game.

That experience made me think.

Recently, FIFA announced that President Donald Trump would receive a FIFA World Peace Award. Regardless of how anyone feels about that recognition, it raises an interesting question:

What does peace actually mean?

Is peace simply the absence of conflict?

Or is it something we actively create by the way we treat one another?

As I attended these events, I couldn't help but notice another conversation taking place alongside the excitement. There has been public discussion about immigration enforcement and the presence of ICE during parts of the tournament. For some people, that represents security. For others—especially families who may already feel vulnerable—it can bring fear or uncertainty.

Those are real emotions, and they deserve compassion.

As the daughter of Cuban immigrants who built a life here in Miami, I understand how deeply immigration can touch a family. Growing up in this city taught me that some of our greatest strengths come from the many cultures that call South Florida home.

After surviving my traumatic brain injury, my perspective on people changed even more.

When you've had your life turned upside down in a matter of seconds, you begin to realize how precious every human connection truly is. You stop focusing so much on what separates us and start appreciating what brings us together.

That's one of the reasons I love soccer.

It reminds me that joy doesn't require everyone to look the same, speak the same language, or come from the same country.

One pass.

One goal.

One celebration.

And suddenly thousands of strangers are hugging each other like lifelong friends.

Imagine if we carried just a little bit of that spirit into our everyday lives.

That doesn't mean we all have to agree on politics or public policy. Those conversations are important, and reasonable people can have different opinions. But I hope we never lose our ability to see the human being standing in front of us before we see a label.

Whether someone is wearing an Argentina jersey, a Real Madrid jersey, an Inter Miami jersey, or simply showing up to experience something new, they're a person with a story worth hearing.

If there's one lesson FIFA has reminded me of, it's that the world's diversity isn't something to fear.

It's something to celebrate.

As always, my goal isn't to tell anyone what they should believe.

My goal is simply to encourage kindness, curiosity, and compassion. I believe we can have difficult conversations without forgetting each other's humanity. I believe we can cheer for different teams, vote differently, come from different backgrounds, and still share the same stadium, the same city, and the same hope for a better tomorrow.

That's the sunshine I'm choosing to live by.

Thank you so much for spending a few minutes with me today. If you've been enjoying my FIFA adventures, don't forget to check out my latest YouTube videos! I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a comment, and let me know what peace means to you.

Until next time…

Keep finding your sunshine. ☀️

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