Connection head & heart

It was a great honor to be interviewed by Frénk van der Linden as a guest at the online conference on Friday, April 16, in the historic building of Felix Meritis. It was a fascinating conversation with the theme Passion, Position and Politics for GZ psychologists. 

Since the launch of my book “Until the day” which I wrote with Job Hulsman, I have given multiple interviews, webinar and lectures. It sometimes feels intensive but always educational and inspiring. It gives me a sense of satisfaction when I hear from the participants that they have been touched, that they have been made to think, that there is room to reflect on life, freedom and responsibility. It intrigues me that every time a journalist asks a question and my answer, a new world unfolds.

Yesterday, Frénk asked me if I still suffer from my prison period or torture in my daily life. I had to think about this for a while. Daily life? No, I responded, but at times when I am confronted with, for example, images of people in a concentration camp when their heads are shaved. Dark-eyed and frozen with anger, I still feel the scissors that went through my hair, slanted, crooked, thinned, not shaved but ugly and cut as short as possible. But later on the way home I thought “yes, not strange that I cherish the nights so much”. 

The meaning of the night has changed forever in my life since prison. The night carries the dark memories! The night helps me to doubt and doubt helps me to discover the art of (survival) life every time. There is no answer, no end and it is never finished. Every chapter I close opens the next chapter.

Of all the lectures, one question remains universal: “what is your motivation Mardjan”, the answer is simple. "Human!" I don't need time to respond. We are on earth to mean something to our fellow human beings. Each in his own way. To mean something to a human being is simply to open your mind and heart, to listen, to ask questions, to postpone your judgment and to seek contact with your head and heart. This connection has set me free in my life. 

My special thanks to the WKK foundation for this wonderful opportunity.