by Kelli Haines

Created on: July 21, 2009   Last Updated: July 22, 2009

Freeing your Inner Hippie

It's in there. Don't try to deny it. No matter if you're male or female, professional or layperson, conservative or liberal, or whether you live in the country or suburbia. Somewhere along the way, like me, you probably had a nice little talk with your inner hippie and told them that the sixties are gone and they need to grow up and join society now. Counterculture is out, conformity is in. Being a mature, responsible person who pays their bills and contributes to society is the goal and highly valued, with good reason. The all American dream beckons, and in this day and age opportunity abounds for pursuing and living the life of your dreams.

Blame it on mid-life, menopause or boredom, whichever you choose but eventually, if you're like me, you find yourself thinking and acting in ways that are not only completely out of character but sure to be frowned upon by well meaning colleagues, family and friends.

After years of eating the Standard American Diet (whose acronym is appropriately S.A.D.) and falling prey to every gimmick diet book on the market, you may find yourself attracted to a vegetarian diet or even the more extreme raw vegetarian diet in an effort to improve your health. This is sure to be interpreted as 'hippie food'.

Suddenly you're trading in those old 90's country music CD's for meditation music, something calming and uplifting that you can play while you have those Himalayan salt candles glowing. These are sure to be interpreted as 'hippie practices'.

Freeing your inner hippie means you don't have to shop at the mall anymore if that's not your thing. You're free to join a local co-op and grow your sprouts in the window if that's what turns you on.

Are you tempted to be a closet hippie just to keep from rocking the proverbial boat? Trust me, it doesn't work. The answer is to surrender! Go with the flow!
I say it's high time, so don't worry about what people think. Hey, doesn't everyone preach diversity and tolerance these days anyway? They'll get over it, I promise. And when you catch yourself saying things like "That's a real downer' they'll just roll their eyes and hope this phase will pass. But the truth of the matter is, you know they're jealous, because deep down they have their own personal peacenik who's just waiting for a chance to be liberated.

So crank up the patchouli and lead the way. It's time to be free, White Bird!
Right on.

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