Passion is Burning
- Kamil A.
- Nov 28, 2018
- 2 min read
I am a strong believer in the power of pain in producing passion and discovering purpose. In all its fragility, pain is the everlasting source for inspiration and motivation. In all its variance, experiencing the pain felt by another requires skills such as listening and reflection.
I was born and raised in the commercial capital of Pakistan: Karachi. Some of the world’s most talked about systemic issues were prevalent in my backyard, on the streets I walked and in my neighbour’s homes that did not look like mine. I cannot forget, nor do I want to: the sights of shaky handc3s knocking on our car window to collect enough change to feed themselves; the smells of polluted air and water as piles of trash burned and exuded pungent, dark, toxic fumes; the pit in my stomach when young boys and girls who looked like me scattered the chaotic streets – cleaning windshields, selling rags and sleeping wherever they could. I cannot forget, nor do I want to. I return to these vivid memories constantly and am encouraged to reflect on my privilege, express gratitude and commit to understanding the problems that perpetuate pain for my people as that is where and when empathy is fostered.
This is the very sentiment that lies at the heart of social innovation and entrepreneurship. “Understand the problem. Fall in love with understanding the problem”, repeat my professors and mentors. Discovering a problem goes beyond just the what and where. It delves deeper into the why and how. Why is waste in Pakistan left unmanaged and why have people resorted to dirty practices such as open burning and dumping into streams? How is this impacted by history, culture and politics? How does this affect the health and wealth of the nation’s people and resources?
My own passions have stemmed from the pain I felt in experiences that I have reflected upon, explored through research and understood through the power of stories. All of this, for me, constitutes the deepening of my ‘empathy well’. This well of empathy is simultaneously dug deeper and drawn from, with every reflection that produces meaningful insights while demanding authentic devotion. One of my many passions that feeds from the empathy well is my passion for sustainability in fashion, specifically to divert waste from the landfill, the stream, the street, the ocean and the seas. Piles of polyethylene bags, plastic bottles, tires and textiles ablaze are images forever etched on my mind. So really, you could say my passion is literally burning.
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