Mela Ruiz,
aka Cheenz

Fear is no thief that comes in the night.
He's a handsome man in a suit and tie.
His face looks familiar as you open the door,
So you let him in and he takes the floor.
The joy of this moment and the gifts to come
Mean nothing now, in Fear's kingdom.
He's comfortable and familiar, often staying too long.
He's a frequent visitor and signs you that song.
The one that you hate, it wraps you up tight,
Your heart beats faster as you realize it's night.
It's next year and next month, watch, the
seasons have changed
And there was such little joy while you let Fear overstay.
The tales that he whispers rarely come true.
I think I'll spend time with Trust now, how about you?

- mela ruiz

Whenever you feel like giving up, I hope you feel like the red autumn leaves. I hope you embrace the enlightenment of transformation.

In this fall you may reminisce on the moments that watered your roots and combed your green leaves with the wind. Do not believe that these days are gone. Now is your time to evolve and transform.

Your stems may feel weak. Your leaves may feel dry. This tree was your health, your community, your breath.

Red like the Phoenix. Dead like the dust.

Autumn is here, but spring lies ahead.

- mela ruiz

Maybe we were made to look at the stars
to stare up in wonder and think
about God
and artist i'll never get over

Maybe we weren't left here
maybe we were put here
to feel connected to the ground
drawn to the lights int he sky

How they shine in their stillness
reminding us of heaven
reaching out to us from the past
pointing us forward

Maybe we were put here to learn
from it all
to remember:
and in the night i was reed

- mela ruiz

There was never a day so misty and grey
That the blue was not somewhere above it.

There is never a mountain top so bleak
That some little flower does not love it

There was never a night so dreary and dark
That the stars were not somewhere shining.

There was never a cloud so heavy and black
That it has not a silver lining.

- mela ruiz

I might love you if your worries melt away in the ocean. If you love the bird's song, the fireflies, and swallowing watermelon seeds. If you let go of what life should be and explore all the possibilities with me. Explore all of me.

If you feel you were meant for a different world, one where ou felt more connected to the stars and your humanity and less connected to the Cloud.

If you look at me like that every day, the way you did when I ripped all that wasn't me away from myself.

I just might love you. I love you. I love you.

- mela ruiz

Have you ever seen a flying flower?
I have once. I think it was me.

Although I can’t tell if it was a memory or just a dream.

Strong enough to blossom
and free enough to fly.

When I saw that soaring flower,
I saw the power of my life.

- mela ruiz

I am God’s creation, standing tall, confident, proud, humble, and strong. I am happy and grateful to be where I am and who I am for two reasons: one, I choose to be, and two, I have no choice. The paradox between these is due to the fact that they are intertwined and ultimately stem from the same foundation. I choose happiness and gratitude because if I do not, I become unhealthy, eventually rotting until death replaces life. And seeing as I am alive and well, I must be happy and grateful - this is life.

- mela ruiz