Negativity and selfishness gets great publicity in our social networking, indirect-contact society. You’d be led to believe the world’s running low on good people and that no one cares for or respects one another anymore. Their only concerns are themselves; and when they’re in need, no one is willing to lend them a hand without reward.
This is not the case. Kind, caring, selflessly-generous people still exist. Mystic Bowie is a shining example.
An internationally loved entertainer and philanthropist, Bowie has been electrifying audiences around the world for more than 40 years. A high-energy live performer with seemingly tireless vocals, the Jamaican born owner of FunkySky Music has received roaring critical and fan acclaim for his project Mystic Bowie’s Talking Dreads – a funky re-imagining of music by legendary group Talking Heads.
With an exceptional music catalog of his own plus a reputation of friendship and goodwill throughout the recording industry, Bowie famously spent 20 years as the “Head Dread” of iconic pop group Tom Tom Club. His signature sound in recent years is a mix of styles that influence fun, good vibes, and uplifted spirits.
While good at what he does, he’s also a good person and one who believes in helping others.
I asked Mystic Bowie to tell me about a time when he did something nice for someone that he didn’t know. Here’s what he shared.
“There are many instances, so it’s kind of hard to put a finger on just one.
But here’s an example: I have a charity called The Mystic Bowie Cultural Center, and what I do is collect school supplies and ship them to schools in multiple countries.
I brought school supplies to Brazil to their poor communities myself. For many years, over the past 15 years, I’ve brought school supplies to Haiti. I also pay for kids to go to college in Jamacia with a scholarship along with shipping them supplies, which I’ve done for more than 30 years.
For me being kind is an unconscious thing. I just keep doing these things for people I don’t know and who I might never meet.
I’m not going wait until I die to go to heaven. I’m going to keep doing these things for people – a school, a child, an elderly – and inherit my glory right here while I’m still alive to enjoy it.
One time when I showed up in Jamacia a kid approached me out of nowhere and said, “Mystic Bowie, guess what? I knew you were gonna be here today, so I brought my report card to show you how good I’ve been doing in school since you’ve been helping me!”
I’d never met this kid, so asked how I was helping him. He told me I was paying for his school!
I live between Jamacia and Connecticut. Another thing I’ve been doing is little concerts in schools where I live, just giving back. I work with the arts commission in my town, volunteering. I keep doing and I keep doing, and I’m never going to stop!
Being kind gives me the salvation that I want and that I crave each time I see the outcome of what I’ve been doing.” |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
Our Shining Example column features a remarkable person sharing an inspiring personal story about an act of kindness.
“We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving.” – ‘We Are the World’
