Tyler Merritt > Quotes

“Because proximity breeds empathy. And with empathy, humanity has a fighting chance.”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“Distance breeds suspicion. But proximity breeds empathy.”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“There is something for you, something that the world really needs, and that only you can do. Only you. And it’s not too late to do it.”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“If you don't deal with your stuff, your stuff will deal with you.”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“Life is too short to spend tons of time around people who suck.”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“Someone once told me that true change always begins in our mind, and that people who live great lives are people who habitually think great thoughts.”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“Maybe eagles marvel at dolphins, and dolphins marvel at eagles.”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“sometimes, there’s something that makes you “you” that other people around you either don’t understand, or don’t take the time to understand, or are sometimes openly hostile to. And that feels like rejection. Which hurts.”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“The deepest part of you is NOT your mistakes or your failures. When God looks at you, He sees so much deeper than your mistakes to your actual identity, your true worth and value. And those of us who love you can see that part, too. So get a better perspective and live that truth out.”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“Proximity (which breeds empathy) + Honesty (vulnerable dialogue) + Value (seeing each other as having inherent worth) + A Common Goal (seeing that we’re all in this”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“Forty percent of these new draftees were black—at a time when the general US population was only about 9 percent black.”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“don’t know if you know this or not, but the United States didn’t even formally apologize for slavery until 2008.7”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“Shame is really easily understood as the fear of disconnection: Is there something about me that, if other people know it or see it, that I won’t be worthy of connection?”2”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“Before we go any further, can we all just admit that junior high sucks eggs? I have never met a person who said, “Man. Seventh grade was the best.” And if I did, I would not want them in my life. Like a person who wears Crocs on purpose, or prefers Pepsi over Coke, I don’t need that kind of delusional idiocy in my life.”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“No other way No day but today —“Another Day” from the musical”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“And more than that, I valued Miguel. My legitimate value and love for him as a human being trumped any issues I was supposed to have with him. I”
― Tyler Merritt, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

“You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well.”
― Tyler Merritt, This Changes Everything: A Surprisingly Funny Story About Race, Cancer, Faith, and Other Things We Don't Talk About

“Not all of us can do great things,” Mother Teresa said, “but we can do small things with great love.” Small things. With great love. And that love ripples out. That’s the one legacy we all can leave—how we made people feel.”
― Tyler Merritt, This Changes Everything: A Surprisingly Funny Story About Race, Cancer, Faith, and Other Things We Don't Talk About