Is it hard to be a real hippy nowadays?

In 1966-1967 and throughout my school years, I went through pretty much the same as what you describe, only in Orlando Florida (before there was a big Mickey there). My friend and I went to the biggest snob school in town -- had our lockers blown up, set on fire, books burned, purses tossed out of 2nd floor windows, you name it. My friend finally gave up and quit school, but she didn't quit learning -- she went back later and got multiple college degrees. People who call you "dirty hippie" or any other name because they can't deal with different aren't worth listening to in the long run. Even if you WERE dirty, you could bathe and that would cure your problem , but they'd still be narrow-minded and ignorant, regardless.

MANY MANY years after I graduated from high school, we decided to have an "alternate" class reunion for all of us who weren't part of the "in" crowd either because of being a hippie, a geek, gay, whatever...one of the guys who showed up was actually a part of the "ins". Something he said to me at that party has really stuck with me. We were all talking about the school daze when someone asked "who in school did you most want to be like". When it got to this guy, who'd always had the "right" clothes and the "right" crowd said he most wished he'd been like my friend and I, whom he described as the "first hippies in Orlando" (probably not the FIRST but pretty close and probably the first in HIS world. He said he chose us because we wore what we wanted, listened to what we wanted, went where we wanted, without caring what other people thought about it, and that he wished he'd felt secure enough in his own skin to have done that.

Just be secure in your own skin, ignore what they say (cuz they want a reaction--don't give them that)

As for the person who said they couldn't get a job because they were a hippie, I'm not buying into that one. I earned money any number of ways -- I was good at English, so a teacher helped me get a job tutoring students from another school who needed help; I made clothes for people in bands, people who just wanted to look cool, and for a consignment shop. (In fact, I'm about to start doing this again...)
I even worked in a grocery store for a couple years wearing a god-awful polyester pants suit uniform (this does require that you be willing to remove visible body piercings and tidy your hair and wear shoes but I met some of the coolest people working there) -- try looking in your area for health food stores or restaurants, coffee shops, etc which cater to younger folks. I even managed a couple bands for 10% of their total pay. Try music stores, book stores, etc. There are plenty of working hippies.

Peace.

 

I also believe that being a hippie is a timeless state of being. It's pretty much a matter of who you are rather than what you call yourself. At one time Jews were referred to as Hebrews. The belief system was still the same.
For me it's the individuality that is important; kindness to living things, being part of nature's lifecycle and putting out good vibrations.

 

I think if your truely a hippie at heart... you dont even have to try/adapt.
it just comes to you and theres nothing you can do about it =]

 

I guess the fact that most of you have a computer is pretty unhippy of you. It is much harder really because for the most part, the culture has died is most places and often, hippies are frowned upon by others.

 

not where i live.

 

Thanks.You gave me good advices and help to find the most important thing myself.
You have right, but you know we are/were a communist country and young people can't do what they want because the regime is very hard.Constitutional rights are broken by the cabinet and so on.

 

Yes that's my problem, too.But I left school and go to university so I hope there won't be so big problems as in my grammar school.No one understand you and don't understand that is a good thing to be hippy.

 

I think that the mentality is as easy to have as its ever been. Whether or not the mentality is accepted by the mainstream society is another story. The lifestyle I desire would be much easier to achieve if I could find more like-minded people in my area. Then we could build the community we desire, and live a little bit closer to a feeling of respect and understanding. At this point in my life, I am building my community and set of beliefs alone, waiting to come across like-minded people to surround myself with. I love my family and close ones; alot of people I come across are cool and are hippies, but they aren't as keen as I am to actually DO IT. Form a community, work together so that we wouldn't have to conform to what society tells us we need... *sigh* Seeing people on the hipforums that I can relate to is like a safe haven for me. It's harder to relate to alot of people I meet than it is to relate to alot of you. Love you all, thank you for being who you are! Being what I consider a hippie is something that will never leave me. It's a part of who I am, and who I want to expand myself to become. Know what I'm saying??

One day at a time...
Peace energy your way,
- Unlearn

 

Everyday I wish I had lived in the 1960's but if you're a real hippy you can let your passion for peace and love shine through todays modern soceity. If you can meet like-minded people then it helps but being a hippie means being able to love yourself for who you are even if your friends don't agree with your dreams and ideals.
Peace and love wished to all.

 

Its easier to be a hippy at heart and think free.

 

I wish to be in 1960's ,too.We live in 2007 and we have to do our best to be as good hippies as our ancestors.My mum was hippy ,too but she don't want to see my as a hip.She says 'Do what you want but a few years later you're going to be as ordinary as me.'

 

What's a hippy?

I think it's kind of open to interpretation!
I wouldn't go so far to say, that i'm a hippy, i mean, i get it a lot, but i don't label it to me =]

I'm a 16 year old high school drop-out, and a community college/tech school drop-out, a greens member, i'm down with local politics, social change and the environment.

Some people say these are 'traits' of being a hippie,
I say it's a trait of being myself

For the record, there are festivals everywhere, you just gotta keep your eyes peeled and your ears to the ground!

 

what has always interested about hippies if freedom. i always viewed it as a lifestyle of freedom and travel, just loving everyone and living fun and happy. creativity always sparked my mind when i thought of the hippy lifestyle. to me its just living life easy, being yourself and just having fun. plus my favorite bands are from the 60s doors,dead all that so it comes easy haha peace.

 

at least you have hippies in your country!poor me! snif!snif!