I continue to slowly declutter. And I would find something to remember, like old newspaper articles about my sister's death. She was stabbed multiple times from my uncle on Saturday, May 17, 2003. (I will save these articles.)

I never talked about her death at the time. I was embarrassed. I was scared. I   was an insecure kid. I was focused on others more than myself. I believed people will hate me. I assumed people will think I am crazy. I always wanted to be alone. I chose to keep it a secret.  

I remember the last day I saw my sister. She looked sad. My sister had a crush on her friend for a long time. But he never expressed his feelings to her. She was hoping he would let her know. My sister did have thoughts about letting him know. But she left it on pause. She had no idea if he liked her. She was clueless by their mixed signals.

My relatives from San Diego visited us in Vallejo at the time. (They are not to blame. Nobody is to blame, even my uncle. I already have forgiven him.) My parents and sister took them to see my auntie (who is my dad's sister) and her family alongside my uncle (who is my dad's brother).

"You wanna go?" my sister asked me.

"No. I'll stay home (watching movies) with the cousins," I told her. (While I entertained cousins from San Diego, I saw my sister alone. She wanted her space. She decided to go out that night.)

They left at 9:30pm.

2 hours later, I received a phone call from my dad.

"Your sister is gone. Your uncle had killed her." he told me.

My uncle was a big brother to me. (He was 14 years older than me.) He was always nice. I have never seen him angry before. We enjoyed playing and watching basketball together. We loved basketball. I could not believe it.

I was confused and in denial. And I was scared. I begged, cried, and prayed at my parent's room. (They have an altar.)

"Please, my sister is alive. Uncle would not do this." I talked in front of altar as I kneeled. "God, is this really happening?"

It was almost similar to Jesus when he was scared to die. He prayed to God in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus also struggled with mortality and the reality of pain and suffering.

My dad petitioned his younger brother to come here from the Philippines. They were not talking to each other for 3 years. No smartphones yet at the time. (I witnessed their argument. My uncle walked away from my dad. He wanted his space. And he decided to live with his sister. The grudge between my dad and uncle began. I never contacted my uncle too.)  

3 hours later, my parents have arrived. I saw my dad wearing a white hospital gown.

My sister had died in hospital at 18 years old.  

I did not witness her death.
​
My auntie's home address was specified in the newspaper articles, too.

​I have never visited her home. I decided to drive by her house. I was not able to come inside. Because my auntie and her family do not live there anymore.

Finally, I contacted my auntie while I was on a hike. I wanted to talk to her more about uncle. Because I was not ready at the time.

She doesn't want to talk about my uncle. I respect her. I understand. I don't hate her. I can't force somebody to talk about death.

For instance, I lost a coach last year. I want to know exactly how he died. His children are not ready to see his autopsy results yet. I respect their decision. 

My mind was processing when I was near the home. My sister's life came to an end at this place. That was 16 years ago.

Last year, I went to the Philippines. I traveled alone. I learned more about my family history. And I visited my uncle's gravestone for the first time. One of my cousins told me uncle wrote letters to everybody. I thought he only wrote a letter to me and my parents. I realized my uncle was seeking unconditional love. Nobody reached out to him. We ignored him.

And I remember he ended his life on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 35 years old.

A few months ago, I read Kevin Hines' book, Cracked, Not Broken:  Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt. Hines constantly heard negative voices in his head. The voices told him to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on September 24, 2000. He was only 19 years old at the time. He was lucky to have survived his suicidal attempt. 

Possibly, my uncle had negative voices in his head. He probably was not able to cope and deal with them. The toughest part in life is being able to train the mind. He was secretive. He never told his problems to anybody. He might have "went on an outrage, due to his bottled-up emotions."

​And it took me 15 years to forgive my uncle.

I lost a sister. I lost an uncle. I lost a coach. I used to hate talking about death. Because I did not want any of my loved ones to die. And even myself.

Death is part of life.

"What makes life meaningful enough to go on living," Paul Kalanithi asked in his book, When Breath Becomes Air.

​Before he was diagnosed with cancer, he worked as a neurosurgeon. Kalanithi asked himself, "What makes a life worth living?"

My friend, Jon, introduced me to sauna. (This was 2 months ago.) He first heard sauna from Tim Ferriss' book, Tools of Titans:  The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers.

(Ferriss has interviewed many people in his podcast. They have given him advice and told him stories. He decided to share it to a bigger audience by documenting it in his book.)

Ferriss explained about sauna in his book:  "'Hypothermic conditioning' can help you to increase growth hormone levels and substantially improve endurance. I now take ~20-minute sauna sessions post-workout or post-stretching at least four times per week, typically at roughly 160 to 170°F. If nothing else, it seems to dramatically decrease DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness)."

He also noted it has "been shown to cause a massive release in prolactin, which plays a role in wound healing."

Sauna may purify body from "built up wastes and harmful toxins."

Like Ferriss, I take 20-minute sauna sessions, after I have finished from lifting weights, exercising my abs, and foam rolling my muscles.

I would join Jon in the sauna. We would usually encounter at least one person in a sauna.

1.
"What should I do?" A friend asked me on the phone.
"Do you feel comfortable traveling with your friend to Jamaica?" I asked her.
"Not really."
"That is the answer to your question."
"I like coming to you for advice."

2.
​"How do you feel about this lady?" I asked my friend.
"She seems to be 'too much.' She is insecure. I have told her." He told me.
"That is the answer to your question. You can say what you want. At the end of the day, it is up to her. It is understanding who people are and making adjustments."
"It makes sense to talk it out."

​3.
"When can I start wearing a v-neck sweater?" My friend's cousin from high school asked me.
"When I was in high school, I wore white skinny jeans. I matched it with my white shirt," I told him. "I was made fun of but it did not seem to bother me."
He looked surprised.
"Go with what you want," I said. "It's your choice. It's your life."

I have shared my stories and experiences to you (for the 165th time and counting.)

"Be careful in sharing your stories to others. They will learn something. Then, they might turn against you. You will regret it," A woman told me.

"That is fine. I cannot predict the future. I want to share my stories and experiences, even if anybody turns against me. I do not expect anything in return." I answered. ​

Fantasy is an instant gratification. It is my imagination. I can say whatever I desire in my mind. (I want it now.)
 
Reality is everyday life. I experience "it" through my five senses:  See, touch, smell, taste, and hear. Remember, it takes time to get whatever I desire in my mind. (Trust the process.)

​We live in an imperfect world. ​

I write about my thoughts and ideas. I share it to you (or the reader). 

​I am sending you a message.

You are motivated to write now. (I wish.) ​