Jake Pearson  00:00

Are you trying to figure out the secret to happiness? We're here at what makes you happy with Jake Pearson, we want to make that happiness more accessible for you in your life. So stick around as we interview everyday people, inspirational leaders and your favorite celebrities on what makes them happy.

Welcome back to the podcast where we ask that one question what makes you happy? 

My name is Jake Pearson. And today we have a lovely guest with us. We have April Bielefeldt. She is a photographer, and she is going to share with us what makes her happy. April, how are you?

April Bielefeldt  00:41

Great. I'm doing great. 

What makes you happy?

Jake Pearson  00:43

Well, thank you for coming on the podcast. April, what makes you happy?

April Bielefeldt  00:47

What makes me happy is sharing my favorite places with others, whether that's an incredible view, a sunrise, seeing the Northern Lights or just a favorite place to eat. I just love sharing those experiences and sharing those places with others.

Jake Pearson  01:02

And how did you discover that? That was what made you happy?

April Bielefeldt  01:06

Well, I first discovered it when I started taking my camera out. And I don't consider myself an amazing photographer, I still feel like I'm learning and I still feel like anyone can be a photographer, especially with the cell phones. And so what gave me the best joy is when I could take somewhere someone to view, like in Vermont in the fall with the red Barns and the little orange trees, and they would get this amazing picture. And then tell me, Hey, I hung it on my wall, I just would bring me to tears, you know, because it's like I was able to facilitate that moment. Get them there, get them there on time and show it to them.

Advice

Jake Pearson  01:44

I love that. It's short, and it's simple. We're going to have a lot of listeners, our goal for this podcast is to just be ever expanding and to reach as many people as we can to help make happiness more accessible for them. So what would be your one piece of personal advice from your own life experience? For someone who may be struggling to find a little bit of happiness in their life.

April Bielefeldt  02:06

My number one piece of advice is do something for someone else, no matter how small. If that's calling someone, if that's receiving a text and taking that hour of your day to listen to someone else. It's amazing how just one little thing, even if you're feeling like crap yourself, if you go to the grocery store or the market and say, Wow, you have a great shirt on today, or I love your hair to the woman or man checking out your groceries, you can just see their face light up, you can just feel their happiness return to you. And it's in those simplest exchanges. And I found when I'm feeling low and think like nothing good is happening. No opportunities are coming my way. It's just what can I do for somebody else and even it's free, it's free to smile at someone, it is free to say, hi! it is free to with-- You know, if I'm on my walk wave at someone, go pet their dog, go talk to him for five minutes. It's really simple. But it's just that caring and giving whatever you have.

Jake Pearson  03:08

I absolutely love that. And that's something I resonate quite a lot with because I work in a gym environment. And sometimes someone could be just having that bad day and you could be having that bad day, but they're just in their own world. And they may look a little bit distressed like they put the weight of the world on their shoulders and just their smile and say, Hey, how are you? Yes, I'm good. And then they go, and that could change the whole course or trajectory of their day or their week just because you smile at them. And it's just a lovely thing to do. 

April Bielefeldt  03:39

Yeah, it is. 

Outro

Jake Pearson  03:40

So April, thank you so much for sharing what makes you happy and we really love the insight you shared. And for everyone at home you can connect with April on her LinkedIn, it will be in the podcast description below. Once again, April, thank you so much for sharing.

April Bielefeldt  03:55

Thank you so much. It was great to share. Take care.

Jake Pearson  03:58

Thanks for listening to the podcast. We hope it gives you something to think about on your quest to discover what makes you happy. Don't forget to leave a review or a comment and follow us on all our social media platforms so you can see our upcoming guests calendar. Thanks for listening. We'll see you next time.