Tribal Inspirations

Writing, Creativity and Art

I heard a New York Times podcast yesterday all about A Tribe Called Quest’s latest album. Interviews with the band revealed a nugget of creativity wisdom. A kernel of truthiness to get the creative juices-a-flowing, a rough rock from where you may extract sparkling creative jewels, a …you get the point.

Q Tip – philosopher that he is – offered something along the lines of the following statement: “An idea inside your head is just a thought until you act on it.”

I like this. Ideas are fantastic, important, a vital starting point for creating something. But until some sort of action (writing, painting, dancing, rapping) occurs – there is no art, and it’s just a ghost in your head. Nobody would know about it. Nobody cares. Nothing happens.

So we must do. And that is the scary part because it means others may bear witness to the doing. And others may not like the doing.

On the other hand, they may like it very much. It might just work.

Published

3 thoughts on “Tribal Inspirations”

  2. Yep! I also think we tend to make the mistake of expecting big things every time we act, whereas it’s more likely to need consistent acts to make something meaningful. But it all starts with the first step, so the cliches tell us.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. It’s a good quote! It’s one we could all learn from too… I think “Acting” on your thoughts, your dreams, your goals, is such a huge deal. Many of us daydream about better lives and the like, but how many of us go forth and act?

    Like

Leave a comment

Tribal Inspirations

Writing, Creativity and Art

I heard a New York Times podcast yesterday all about A Tribe Called Quest’s latest album. Interviews with the band revealed a nugget of creativity wisdom. A kernel of truthiness to get the creative juices-a-flowing, a rough rock from where you may extract sparkling creative jewels, a …you get the point.

Q Tip – philosopher that he is – offered something along the lines of the following statement: “An idea inside your head is just a thought until you act on it.”

I like this. Ideas are fantastic, important, a vital starting point for creating something. But until some sort of action (writing, painting, dancing, rapping) occurs – there is no art, and it’s just a ghost in your head. Nobody would know about it. Nobody cares. Nothing happens.

So we must do. And that is the scary part because it means others may bear witness to the doing. And others may not like the doing.

On the other hand, they may like it very much. It might just work.

Published

3 thoughts on “Tribal Inspirations”

  2. Yep! I also think we tend to make the mistake of expecting big things every time we act, whereas it’s more likely to need consistent acts to make something meaningful. But it all starts with the first step, so the cliches tell us.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. It’s a good quote! It’s one we could all learn from too… I think “Acting” on your thoughts, your dreams, your goals, is such a huge deal. Many of us daydream about better lives and the like, but how many of us go forth and act?

    Like

Leave a comment