We asked some of the happiest folks we know to tell us their secret.

Carla Sofia Ordoñez | Graphic Designer and Co-Owner of Yerbabuena

Whenever I look back and realize how far I’ve come, that makes me happy. It’s been a long road and there’s still more to come, but I’ve learned a lot about myself and met amazing people along the way. I guess this whole journey and all the experiences and memories I’ve created is what makes me happy. Read more>>

Rio Hayes | Registered Nurse

A lot of things make me happy; my husband, family, friends, food, the list goes on. But the very core of my happiness begins with me. It’s a conscious choice to be happy; a state of being. I remember walking into work one morning and someone said “Why are you so perky this early in the morning?” and my response is “why not?” A remark I’ve heard often at work & in college, “how are you so happy? It’s too early! I don’t even want to be here!”. Don’t get me wrong I have my days, I am guilty of this myself. I am human. But something that I learned early on before this pandemic, is that life is too short not to be happy, life is too short not to see the bright side of your darkest moments, life is too short not to live it fully. I am grateful to wake up every day, to serve the community in the way that I can, and that alone is more than enough to be happy. My 30’s have been nothing short of challenges and seeing the bright side of the darkest days of my life. Read more>>

Alexa Pacheco | Behavior Technician & Youth Program Leader

To me, happiness is people. It’s learning. And it’s learning with people. The gift of loving and the gift of learning are two precious wonders we are given in this life that can never be taken away from us. I’ve always known I would end up working in a field where I would be supporting fellow members of society in one way or another. I’ve had the beautiful opportunity to work in both education and healthcare and I have loved every second of it. Happiness is found in every child I get to work with. In education and healthcare, the students, patients, and clients are not the only ones learning. Educators and healthcare workers are also learning from every individual they come across and personally this is the reason I do it. It sounds silly to say but people are my passion. I’ve been studying communications and social psychology because there is absolutely nothing more fascinating to me than people. Read more>>

David Frerker | CEO & Founder of San Diego Sports Domination

A major portion of San Diego Sports Domination is sports photography. Getting the opportunity to photograph what could be the biggest moments in the athletes lives. This could be a touchdown celebration, a game winning celebration to cap off the schools first CIF Championship, capturing family photos, photographing the fans …. I have had many great experiences on and off the field. I have photographed hundreds of sporting events ranging from high school sports to U.S. Olympic Trials. I have photographed in stadiums that no longer exist. I have photographed teams that no longer exist. Here are a few of my favorite off the field moments that make me happy. I recently got to do a photoshoot with the Vikings of La Jolla High School. Not being able to play has been hard on seniors around the country and I wanted to be able to do something special for them. Read more>>

Sofia Putrino | Wedding Photographer

It is so easy for me to explain what makes me happy – making other people happy. Aside from the fact I have always felt I’ve ‘had an eye’ for photography, one of the first things to draw me to this profession was my own feeling after I received my own wedding gallery. I was given this extraordinary gift of being able to remember the best day of my life. I was able to experience my own wedding day again and again, through a different lens (pun intended). So being able to give that gift to others makes me so happy. I’ve been trusted with so many people’s “firsts” – first baby, first birthdays, first photos taken as a family, first kiss, the list goes on. Seeing the reaction when I deliver my client galleries and seeing how excited they are and grateful they are to have had their moment documented – THAT is what makes me happy. Read more>>