A great many lessons can be learned from Migos. Yes, the hip hop trio – Quavo, Offset and Takeoff. You know them, you probably love them (whether you admit it or not) and I’m willing to bet you’ve referred to yourself as “bad and boujee” at least once because of them.
But I’m not here to talk “Bad and Boujee” – not today at least.
I’m here to talk about “Walk It Talk It” – the song that’s been on a loop in my mind all week.
Walk It Like I Talk It
Walk It Like I Talk It
That’s pretty much how the whole hook goes (repeated) with some “woo’s,” some “yeah’s” and some “ayy’s” spinkled in.
If I’ve lost you thus far – perhaps because hip hop isn’t your jam, or maybe you’re just behind the times and still strictly on “Bad and Boujee” as far as Migos goes – any one of the following phrases can be referred to in lieu of your figuring out who or what Migos is and what this “Walk It Talk It” song is about (I’m looking at you, Dad).
Actions speak louder than words.
Practice what you preach.
Talk is cheap.
Don’t just talk about it, be about it.
Don’t trust words, trust actions.
Don’t tell people your dreams, show them.
Actions prove who someone is, words just prove who they want to be.
People who don’t back up their words with actions are typically said to 'talk a good game' or my personal favorite (in the UK) to be 'all mouth and no trousers' – i.e., in my case, repeatedly saying I want to lose weight but not taking the necessary steps (literally!) in order to do so.
So many things in life are easier said than done – a cliché that is overused (sorry) and truly betrays a lack of original thought, but only because of it being so undeniably pervasive. The good news is life has a way of kicking us in the pants (or in our lack of trousers) with impeccable timing, helping us to, for lack of eloquence, shut up and get what it is we keep talking about done.
The beginning of this week I talked a big game. It started with the alarm going off in the morning and me telling myself I’d do the workout that evening instead. Then not. Then telling myself I’d do it tomorrow. Then not. This happened 3 days in a row. Meanwhile, I had this constant annoying reminder to walk it like I talk it stuck in my head, thanks to that song by Migos (and thanks to life, I suppose).
I woke up today, hit play on “Walk It Talk It” and got it done. Partly because I wanted that song out of my head (don’t get me wrong, it’s staying on my workout playlist indefinitely) but mostly because I don’t want to be that person who just talks about it ever again. I’ve done that enough.
The truth is sometimes we fail. We’re only human (another worthy cliché). I think if we forgive ourselves, listen to life’s reminders and minimize the time between failing and standing back up again – we’re probably doing alright.