50 things to do in my lifetime

Life is short, and we spend too much of it doing things we do not want to do, shackled to our jobs and daily chores. The free time we do have, we sometimes don't spend wisely. Ask yourself - what have you ever promised yourself you would do, or wished you could try? When you were young, what did you want to do "when you were older", and more importantly, are you doing them?

I am challenging everyone to create a list of 50 things to do in your lifetime. Your goals can be adventurous ambitions like "Test Drive a Ferrari" or everyday things like "Get organized". Don't just create the list, but be sure to scratch things OFF your list too.

I am beginning my list now, in hopes that I will remember to live life to it's fullest. Because a life not lived, isn't worth living.

My 50 things to do in my lifetime

Sky dive (this is so cliche', huh?)

Visit Slab City

Become a foster parent

Sleep under the stars for a week

Go to a Burning Man Show

Backpack through Europe

Write a book

Climb a mountain

Visit a nudist camp

Take a hot air balloon ride

Learn to play a musical instrument

Own my own home

Appear in a film

Participate in a marathon

Go Skiing

Create something out of wood

Get a makeover

Go on silent retreat (Hopefully this will be happening soon)

Drive from the East Coast to the West Coast (or vice versa)

Get out of debt

Have dinner with a random homeless person

Build a tree house

Take a daily walk for 30 days (Rain or shine)

Make a difference

Become a grandmother

Volunteer in a third world country

Have a portrait of myself painted

Send a message in a bottle

Grow a garden

Jury Duty

Visit:

Finland

Ireland

Spain

France

Greece

Italy

England

Hungary

Sweden

India

Nepal

China

Japan

Mexico

Peru

Trinidad

Panama

Brazil

Congo

Ethiopia

South Africa

Some of these things I have already done. Some of these places I have already visited. But, I want to do them again as I didn't appreciate them fully the first time.

The beauty of nature

I wished I lived in a one room cabin, on top of a grassy hill. A pond nearby for my daily frolic in the cool clear water. I would run down the hill, dewy grass beneath my feet so that I could fell the wind blow my hair freely. The sun is shining, warming my skin. I long for the day when I can stand outside, and feel close to nature; close to God.

Our society is so detached from things at their natural state, that rarely we appreciates the beauty of a setting sun; the appeal of dew drop on a Morning Glory as the day breaks. People rarely stop and take a moment to enjoy the swift flow of a leaf falling from a tree readying itself for the winter cold.

As I imagine myself in my simply constructed dwelling atop a hill filled with fragrant wildflowers with no television, no phone, no computer; I wonder. I wonder if I still would be so self absorbed, that even without the distractions of modern day society, would I neglect to absorb the beauty of it all?

I will probably never have my cozy home on top the hill, but I will try to silence my mind and open my eyes to the awe-inspiring portraits that were painted by a hand more skilled than mine. I will take the time to absorb nature in it's natural sense. I vow to go outdoors, and discover the beauty that has been here since the beginning of time. Nature will not find me inside my dimly lit townhome, but I will find nature.

Boycott "Made in China"

Recently I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't buy any products made in China for 30 days. During my boycott, I was forced to give thought to the products I purchased which is more than I can say before I began this interesting little journey. I suddenly became more label conscious, and was surprised at the magnitude of products made in China. I sometimes laughed at the irony of some products that I found were MIC, like American flags. I also learned that some companies can be very deceiving. For instance, I saw a product that had "Made in USA" written on the box, and in fine print it said "Product made in China" Apparently the BOX was made in the USA. They are trying to trick consumers!

When I did my food shopping I didn't even consider checking the items I was buying to see if they were made in China. I ASSumed that America surely wouldn't allow China to get their hands in on our food supply. Ha! I was wrong. But, as it turns out, reading the label probably wouldn't have helped me much anyway. The United States requires labels on seafood to mark where it came from, however, that's the exception. With most foods, companies are not required to label where ingredients come from, only where the food was packaged or processed.

So the frozen pizza you bought could have 20 ingredients in it from 20 different countries, and all the consumers knows was that it was packaged in Glendale, New York.

So, how are you supposed to boycott food products made in China?

You can't!

Buying locally and avoiding prepacked foods is your best bet to keep products MIC out of your kitchen cupboards. There are some products that are more likely to be made in China and they include:

Apple Juice (who woulda thought?)

Mandarin Oranges

Candy

Dried Garlic

Cocoa Butter

Sausage Casings

Dried Berries (like those found in breakfast cereal)

Another thing..

Independence Day is coming up, and ironically thousands of Americans will celebrate our Independence by purchasing fireworks that were made in China. These fireworks were manufactured in many cases with forced labor, even child labor, under the most unsafe and inhumane conditions.

Annual sales in the U.S. are approaching $1 billion. Yep, that's right- A BILLION!

So, when you buy fireworks made in China, you are helping China rake in millions on the backs of slave laborers, political prisoners and badly exploited peasants – people who have no choice, no freedom, no independence, no say.

Talk about irony.

Needless to say, we won't be purchasing fireworks this year.

I have decided to continue my Made in China boycott indefinitely. I want to send a message to the American companies that it is morally wrong to get rich off the suffering of so many people. I want them to stop putting our children, our pets, our elderly... all humans at risk to save a few dollars.

Maybe my voice won't make a difference, but I will sleep well at night knowing I did my part.

Patrick- my special boy.

First I would like to start off by saying that both of my children are special in their own sort of way. But, this blog is about Patrick, my special little guy.

Patrick was diagnosed with autism in 2004, but I knew in my heart that he had it even before the doctor said those words no parent ever wants to hear.

"Your child has autism."

When I first discovered that Patrick was probably somewhere on the autism spectrum, I stayed up many nights crying myself to sleep. I wasn't sure what the future held. I really didn't know if my child would ever read, write, talk, get married, use the potty unassisted, have friends, go on dates, get a job, drive a car, tell me he loves me, etc. But, a revelation came to me one night and I realized that no parent ever knows if their child will do any of those things. Life is fragile, and often times short. I now just cherish every minute I get to spend with Patrick, instead of mourning the loss of the child that could have been. I try not to think of the things he may not do, and soak up the things that he can do.

Anyway, the reason for this blog is to share a letter written to Pat and I by one of Patrick's teacher at the end of this school year. Here it is:

Mr and Mrs Hagan,

I just wanted to write you a short note to tell you how much I have enjoyed
working with Patrick this year. I think he is such a special little guy, and I
will miss him dearly!! Watching his progress this year was nothing short of
wonderful. He is such an amazing spirit and has touched my heart is so many
ways. I will NEVER forget him; I just adore Patrick.

I wanted to say, after being with him this year, I believe in him. He is
going to have success in his life. I am proud for what he has achieved because
he showed me just how much he has inside of him. Do not let anyone ever tell you
he can't do something. He can do ANYTHING. I know this is my heart! He had quite
an impact on me, I believe he is a true gift. If you ever need someone to watch
him, please know that I am there for him. I will always value this school year
with such a wonderful boy, who has an amazing spirit.

All the best,

The amazing thing is that this isn't the first letter that we have gotten like this from someone who has spent time with Patrick. We have gotten letters from other teachers, bus drivers, and a day care worker. I always knew Patrick had an amazing spirit, but it's great to hear it from others.

I truly believe that Patrick has great purpose on this earth, and although I do not know what that purpose is I have no doubt that he will fulfill it. He may never read, write, talk, use the potty, go on dates, drive a car, or get a job, but I do know that he has already touched so many lives in the short time he has been on this earth; And, I am sure that he will touch many more.

Getting a job is overrated anyway.

What is Unitarian Universalism?

What is Unitarian Universalism?

Recently, I have been soul searching in an attempt to find a theology that fits me. Over the last few years I have attended several churches in hopes to find somewhere I fit it; A place I could call home. I have my credence in regards to heaven and earth, death and afterlife, God and Jesus, and all other questions that are usually answered when you "find religion". My main obstacle has been that my beliefs weren't easily categorized in one particular religion. My beliefs span from Neo-Paganism to Buddhism to Christianity. Until recently, no church I attended could really cater to the likes of me.

But, as I said.. until recently. A few weeks ago, I attend a Unitarian Universalism (UU)congregation for the first time. I was amazed, and inspired. They allow each individual to find their own theology, without force feeding opinions down your throat. When I first heard of UU, I had no idea what they stood for. So, what does a UU believe in? These FAQ's that I obtained from the book "100 Questions that Non-Members Ask About Unitarian Universalism" by John Sias may help you understand more:

What do Unitarian Universalists believe?

• Every individual should be encouraged to develop a personal philosphy of life.
• Everyone is capable of reasoning.
• We do not need any other person, official or organization to tell us what to believe.
• We should be able to present religious opinions openly, without fear of censure or reprisal.
• All people should be tolerant of religious ideas of others.
• Truth is not absolute; it changes over time.
• Everyone should continue to search for truth.
• Everyone has equal claim to life, liberty and justice.
• People should govern themselves by democratic processes.
• Ideas should be open to criticism.
• Good works are the natural product of good faith.
  

What do you not believe?

We do not believe that any religious precept or doctrine must be accepted as true simply because some religious organization, tradition or authority says it is. Neither do we believe that all UU's should have identical beliefs.

Do you believe in God?

While there is a perception of UU's that we do not believe in god, it is much more accurate to say that we do not have a single, defined concept of God in which all UU's are expected to believe. Each member is free to explore and develop and understanding of God that is meaningful to him or her. They're also free to reject the term or concept altogether.

Most of use do not believe in a supernatural, supreme being who can directly intervene in and alter human life or the mechanism of the natural world. Many believe in a spirit of life or power within themselves, which some choose to call God.

How do you regard the bible?

We regard the bible as one of many important religious texts but do not consider it unique or exclusive in any way. We do not interpret it literally. We think some parts of it offer more truth and relevance than other parts. Although UU's respect the bible and regard some of its content as great literature, it is not a central document in our religion.

Do you believe in Jesus?

We do not believe that Jesus Christ was born of a vergin, performed miracles and was resurrected from death. We do admire and respect the way he lived, the power of his love, the force of his example, and his values.

Most UU's regard Jesus as one of several important moral and ethical teachers who have shown humans how to live a life of love, service and compassion. Though some of us may question whether Jesus was an actual historical figure, we do believe his teachings are of significant moral value.

What are the bonds that unify UU's?

While there are no written or verbal doctrines designed for that purpose, we have both stated and unstated bonds which unify us. The stated bonds are the principles and purposes of the UUA which we support individually and collectively.

Among the unstated bonds are our mutual respect for each other and our appreciation of many religious, philosophical, and spiritual paths which our members pursue. We are bound together in our mutual concern for one another's well being, and our willingness to aid each other in time of need.

Is UU really a religion?

In dealing with beliefs and theology, it's important to note that Unitarian Universalism is a way of being religious rather than a religious doctrine. For us, religion is an ongoing search for meaning, purpose, value and spiritual depth in one's life. We believe that individuals are entitled to make their own search, and that not all persons (not even all UU's) are going to share the same beliefs.


Reverend F. Forrester Church has defined religion as, "Our human response to the dual reality of being alive and knowing we will die." This captures a common UU understanding of religion. It is how we respond to life, and how we find meaning, purpose and depth in life, in the face of our human mortality.

Unitarian Universalism is a non-creedal, non-doctrinal religion which affirms the individual's freedom of belief. For this reason it is not possible to give a blanket answer to whether or not UUs believe in God, Jesus, and the bible or life after death. Although we do not all believe the same things about these and other matters, we do believe that each person has the integrity and the ability to come to terms with their religious beliefs in a way that is right for that person.

The beginning

Okay, so I have finally joined the masses and started a blog. I guess this is going to be a place I ramble about life and it's happenings.

So, we are off!