"My situation is sometimes complicated. I could cry for hours," she shares. "But when you do voluntary work, you are out of this zone. And so it saves your hours from being wasted and you make your pain less and the other people's pain less. Because by volunteering you solve other people's problems. So it's magic.” Volunteerism becomes a safe haven for her—a transformative force that not only alleviates her pain but also kindles hope and resilience in others.
Hekmat's journey is emblematic of the symbiotic relationship between individual stewardship and community resilience. Drawing inspiration from Sufi philosophy, she embodies the ethos of ownership through love and service. "Any land you walk, you own it, it's yours. If I own Asheville. Yeah, it's all the land. It's in my name. Yes, not on paper. Yes, in soul. Yes. In your heart. In my heart. Love is why I own it. So, I need to do something about it. When I do something for it, the land itself will reflect to me. We will have less accidents, less troubles, less locks, and closed doors. The doors will open because everything is listening to you. The trees, the earth, the birds, the animals, everything. Every, every single issue. And the Earth is watching you and has a relationship with you," she articulates. Asheville, her adopted home, becomes a canvas for her love and devotion—a reciprocal relationship of nurturing and being nurtured.
Beyond its immediate impact on the community, volunteerism serves as a profound catalyst for personal growth and learning. Hekmat likens volunteerism to a seed, stating, "Volunteering is like the seed of anything. You put it in and you keep watering it." This analogy underscores the long-term ripple effects of even the smallest acts of kindness. Like a seed, volunteerism germinates, nurturing not only individuals but entire communities.
Moreover, volunteerism offers invaluable lessons that transcend monetary compensation.
As Hekmat aptly observes, "When you work you have a salary. But with voluntary work, there is no monetary salary. It's that the respect for yourself, it's higher." In giving selflessly of one's time, energy, and ideas, individuals cultivate a deeper sense of self-worth and garner respect from their peers. In the absence of monetary incentives, the purity of volunteerism shines through, fostering genuine connections and a shared commitment to collective well-being.
