Kristina is the latest member of the Suncokret Team who is collaborating on our newly-expanded "Life Empowerment" retreat program called "From a Mess to Your Best in 28 Days."
The program is quite unique to others we run, as it is made up of four individual week-long events that each build on the other to deliver participants through a complete holistic lifestyle makeover that then propels them full throttle into their newly envisioned and refined professional pathway, which then acts as the foundation for the remainder of their hopes and dreams to manifest, within divine timing.
Who is Kristina and how did she come to collaborate with Suncokret? Let's find out more about her in her own words:
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you do aside from writing and creating advertisements?
A: Aside from practicing yoga for over fifteen years, I gravitate towards the bountiful outdoors--complete with its lush greenery, serene landscapes (all seasons), quiet, calm and undivided inspiration.
Rock climbing has served as an extension of that love, and has been the basis for most of my travels in the last seven years. The mindful, vertical meditation, coupled by the extensive warm community of climbers aids in my addiction. While jobs, relationships, towns, etc have changed, climbing has served as a beautiful constant.
When not exploring the rugged outdoors-- touching rock, traversing peaks and learning from mama nature, I can be found reading, studying and immersing myself in mind/body wellness.
Everything that ranges from what I ingest to what goes on my body. It’s all consuming and truly an anchor for living in your most positive light. Steeping some indigenous herbs while curling up with Psychology Today or Scientific American is my idea of a relaxing night in.
Q: How did you get into creative expression? Yoga, writing, etc.
A: Ah, where to begin? The fertile mind is a delicate and crazy container, isn’t it? To identify where it began would be an unreachable feat akin to finding a needle in a haystack. What I can say is that I was always a curious little human. There is a story about a day in preschool where I was confronted by my teacher who asked why I broke all my crayons. “Because now I have more,” I replied. And well, that perfectly describes how my brain operates.
I like to see things from multiple angles and I like to study why that is. Yoga, writing, dancing, painting, climbing, etc all serve as unique vessels of exploration into the mind, into the delicate psyche that creates our unique thumbprint-- none of us are alike, and that’s the coolest thing ever.
Q: What was your life like before your career path in copywriting?
A: Before diving into the world of copywriting (the poetry of capitalism), I was still a loud, rambunctious, rebellious soul. I attended music shows, consumed classic literature, non fiction and poetry like it’s h20, and endlessly journaled multifaceted topics that to this day need to live in a novel.
I still do the above, but life as an adult becomes a little harsher, a little more straight forward and critical.
Creative expression fights with the need for survival and writing to satiate desire gets reduced to multiple copies of the same thing for a quizzical client. All of this is in good fun, and of course a lesson from every angle.
These days I have been getting back to moving my pen for my own pleasure and not for the corporate umbrella. And that, my friends, is a powerfully liberating feeling.
Q: What would you say is one the best things about writing?
A: Have you ever picked up a paint brush, a pair of ballet flats, gotten behind a camera lens, etc? Have you felt that freedom? The freedom that exists between you and your medium-- between the body and the act you are executing? That’s the feeling, the feeling of moving a fine-tipped liquid pen across a grainy page.
That’s the feeling of diligently typing across a blank square, of printing words of your choosing to build on or disrupt the reader's perception of reality. How powerful, no?
Q: What style of writing appeals to you the most and one that you feel everyone should master?
A: This is a toughie. I can’t simply distill the importance of writing into one style, but can add that all styles must be utilized to give birth to your unique vision.
Everything from narrative, analytical, expository, argumentative and persuasive are all vital in channeling your expression.
Q: What was your most embarrassing class teaching/ group event experience?
A: A few years ago, while working at a buzzing advertising agency in NYC’s Union Square, I was met with a group presentation where I was leading a workshop for the Jr. copywriters. The problem? I was still a junior writer myself! You know that ol’ adage, “fake it until you make it?” Well, I did just that. I had to.
My creative director had faith in me, and I was for sure not going to let him down. To this day, I have so much respect for him. He gave me the opportunity to lead a group of enthusiastic and bright eyed writers that were yearning to learn the in’s and outs of sales copy-- how to get people to buy things they do/don’t really need.
I jokingly say that if it weren’t for copywriters’ cleverly positioning products, we wouldn't be roused into fantasising about what that said [product] could be or do. How instrumental is our craft, right? ; )
Q: Besides writing, what is your favorite thing?
A: Waking up with choices--freedom. Seems like a no-brainer, but darn, there are so many unfortunate circumstances wherein people don’t get that blessing.
I am grateful that I can choose how to write my story. We are the architects of our own life, after all.
Q: What was your favorite thing about coming to Suncokret Retreat as a guest?
A: Believe it or not, I attended Suncokret as a volunteer and it was single-handedly one of the most transformative times of my life.
It may have not appeared that way at the time, but it was one of those experiences that when reflected on, prompt an “a-ha” moment that invites tears and makes you smile from ear to ear. Yeah, that was Suncokret.
I met Evening over the phone during March 2020, a very strange time amidst the COVID outbreak.
I was living in Zagreb for a year to secure dual citizenship (on the basis of reunification with family. Mama was born there). After experiencing a terrifying earthquake that logged in as 5.9 on the Richter, and two failed attempts at getting a job permit, I needed to redirect.
I called Evening to discuss a possible collaboration to help her with her marketing angle. Having spent a few months on sunny Hvar, biking en route from the tiny village of Dol to the aquamarine seas every day, I felt reborn. I felt rekindled.
I will forever be grateful to Evening, Stipe, Gina, and family for their thoughtfulness and loving nature. They are still an extension of my forever family.
Q: What do you hope your guests will attain by attending your event at Suncokret?
A: The biggest takeaway I’d like for the participants to gain is the desire to manifest their thoughts onto paper-- however that takes shape. We will have the opportunity to learn the different styles of writing and how to apply them in a practical sense, and furthermore, how to execute on building your concrete vision.
Whether you’re looking to pivot in a new career direction, start a blog, quit your day job and become an influencer, we will cover all necessary topics needed to turn your vision into something tangible.
Q: How did you come up with the retreat event theme you are leading at Suncokret?
A: I have been working in the advertising industry, alongside creative geniuses since 2012. After experiencing a burnout at 24 years old (young, I know), I left NYC in search of answers (don’t we all?).
I found myself in Denver, Colorado where the mountains fed my soul and offered something New York City could never-- easy access to nature.
But something was still missing. This indistinguishable thirst for adventure, for the lively exchange between strangers, trying new cuisines, learning about new cultures, anthropological accounts from strangers in faraway lands. Life’s truths hidden, a plane ride away.
So I did what any burnt out “kid” with a disposable income (while living with the folks) would do-- I packed my bag and set sail. Literally.
One year abroad turned into a repeat visit to Rome, Italy, where I worked as a translator for Translated, a machine learning/AI company for Airbnb. Following the end of that contract, I decided to move to Croatia and subsequently relocated to North Macedonia, where I currently created a basecamp in a free environment I so very much enjoy.
This past Christmas, I was stirred into taking a new direction in my career and collaborated with Evening to develop this writers' workshop, inspired by a newfound thirst to redirect my career and leave advertising behind. Anything is possible, friends. Anything.
Q: Why would attending your particular event be beneficial to the participants?
A: If you feel stuck in your current job or feel like there is creative expression that needs to be unearthed and applied, this workshop will have everlasting benefits.
We will learn to identify and to enact on those points, and furthermore, how to sell yourself and your work. The key benefit in this course which distinguishes it from others is the knowledge of applicative writing-- writing that sticks and circles back to convey a point. This is exactly the type of writing that is used to leverage businesses, brands, instagram handles etc.
We won’t just learn about writing, we’ll learn about the psychology behind what we are writing and why we are doing so.
Q: Is there any ideal way that retreat participants can better prepare themselves for the Launch Your Dream workshop?
A: Come with an open mind and your favorite writing utensil or technology to type on. That’s it.
Q. At the end of the event week, what is the one thing you hope that event participants will walk away feeling?
A: Inspired. Yes, it sounds cliche, but it is exactly what I wish for my participants.
I want them to feel inspired and charged to start paving a new path for themselves.
Q: What are you most looking forward to experiencing as a co-hosting teacher at Suncokret?
A: The participants! I live for cross cultural exchange and am inspired by my students as much as I gain joy from sharing my experiences.
The things you learn from people are invaluable.
Q. What advice would you give to writers who would like to lead retreats?
A: Reading comes before writing. You must learn the art before you can craft it.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: Oof. How much time do you have? ; )
Thanks for reading!
