Sanja delighted us with her sincerity and empathy towards all living beings. An occupational therapist whose job is to play with children all day long, she paints for fun and listens to records. Saving wilted plants and removing trash from the sea is what bought us to the end. The mini interview below is worth reading.
Favorite achievement?
When someone asks me this question, it's hard for me to pick out my favorite (guess what my horoscope is). I'm now at a stage where I'm satisfied with my career and achievements, I'm always persistent in my work and I'm very proud of that. But there's another part of me that I've had trouble with, and that's standing up for myself, saying no, and becoming more open to people. I want to highlight that as an achievement because I can do it more now than before.
What is Sanja like in terms of style - describe your style and favorite fashion accessories in a few words.
Classic and minimalist Sanja. Always simple, timeless pieces, warm, earthy tones with an interesting piece of jewelry.
Tell us a little about what you do and how you spend your free time.
From a young age, I had a need to help people and I was more sensitive to those who were in any way endangered or excluded from the community in which they live or who have certain limitations due to injury or illness. This is what I still do today. I am an occupational therapist by profession and currently play all day with children who have any developmental deviations. Why play? Because play is their job and main occupation, and through it they learn and gain many skills necessary for growth and development. In addition to my primary job, I also do additional jobs, promote the profession because we are still sufficiently unrecognized in our country, and participate in many other activities (I evaluate various educational programs, I am an external associate of one Croatian and one Belgian faculty). Of course, in addition to work, I manage to enjoy free time activities, and my favorite ones are going to the gym and hiking.
What does your care look like - for yourself?
I stick to the well-known saying "there is no health without mental health". I pay a lot of attention to a healthy lifestyle, balancing roles and setting daily priorities. Exercise (three to four times a week) and going out into nature (most often hiking on weekends) help me a lot. I support so much activity with a healthy diet, I read a lot about nutrition and I also subtly influence the changes that other people in my environment bring. I love plants, so in addition to talking to my own, I save other people's wilted plants and give them new life. For my soul, I paint and listen to records.
How do you honor our Planet?
I have always felt a great gratitude towards the planet. I have been recycling waste for years and started this practice long before people started to be aware of the need for it. Cloth bags are an integral part of my trips to the store or the market. I take out the garbage floating on the water from the sea. I use glass bottles and practice the "refill" or "reuse" methods whenever I can.
Do you have any unfulfilled wishes? Share them with us.
Learn to play the piano and dance ballet. I've wanted to do that since I was a little girl, but since I come from a small town, there weren't any extracurricular activities for kids. But I stick to the motto that it's never too late, so it's still on my list of life goals.
The small things that Sanja does for other beings are actually very big and we are happy to share them with you because it is precisely these kinds of stories that need more space and attention. We thank Sanja for the time she has set aside for us and we wish her to take her first ballet steps as soon as possible.