Tariq

Breestraat barber. Emigrated to Netherlands from Northern Iraq in 1996

“I’ve done everything independently and alone in my life. I try to make myself happy without other people because there is no guarantee that people won’t leave or change. People will make you sad. If he goes or she goes or changes, you won’t feel good. If people in your life die it makes you very sad. I experienced that when my brother died and my father died. I had a lot of pain. If you marry and have children and then something happens your life will be very sad. Some people can accept this, but I’m very sensitive. If you have a choice, you must look for happiness. In the past I didn’t want to be alone, but now I want to be alone. I am a little bit older now, maybe that’s the reason. I like to have time to think and relax. If you have a wife you can’t be alone because they need you and you need them. Sometimes I hope I will find a good woman and that we can make a nice life together. But if that doesn’t happen it’s no problem. I’ve made friends with myself and my work. And if I use my energy today then I sleep well in the evening. That’s important. Being alone makes you mentally strong because then you don’t look for help from other people. You make all the decisions, you figure out the solutions and you don’t rely on other people. Sometimes you make mistakes, but you learn something.”

(Leiden, Netherlands)