Building on historic American values, hippies believe in freedom, self-expression and individuality. This is reflected in our appearance, lifestyles, and attitudes. We were among the first to become interested in self development, at the same time we had political power.
 Hippies believe that an individual should be able to become anyone they want. We were very vocal in pointing out how government and other institutions seriously limit individual freedom. It was also clear that social constraints acted on us at many levels.
Hippies are willing to try almost anything new. As the Life cereal ad said, we believed it was best to “Try it you’ll like it.” We believed in the right to pleasure. “If it feels good, do it!” Hippies had a yearning to travel. We wanted to meet new people and explore new places. We also were among the first white Americans to show respect for people who were different, serving as early proponents of cultural diversity.
Hippies seek out new opportunities for personal growth. We want to experience life to its fullest. Hippies recognized the need to expand the limits of human potential. We reached new and alternative forms of consciousness through psychedelic drugs and innovative spiritual practices. From the Eastern traditions we learned that each person is divine. We have all we need for complete happiness, if we would just trust our own intuition more and the establishment less.
We also wanted to be spontaneous and go with the flow. We were among the first to recognize that play can be as productive and more creative than traditional notions of work. Hippies formed the earliest Psychedelic jam bands, as exemplified by the various California-based acid rock groups. Grateful Dead concerts remain a model for the hippy experience, as well as a new social movement and thriving business model. Hippies love music, dance and the arts. Some of the first multi-media experiences were part of the Acid Tests held in San Francisco during the mid-sixties.
Hippies were true entrepreneurs in terms of the number of new businesses and other initiatives that we started. These included food coops, free clinics, alternative media (including the underground press,) and a range of other successful ventures. We also believed that work should reflect our values and lifestyle choices.
How to Do Your Own Thing:
* If you really want to try something, go for it (as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else). Don’t let past guilt trips from teachers, priests or parents haunt you. You are free to follow your own bliss.
* Creativity is not reserved for professional artists and entertainers. Reconnect with the musician, dancer, and artist inside of you. We were all born creative. Parents, schools, and the media stifle our creative potential from an early age.
* Support the arts in your schools and community. Make sure all young people are given the chance to nurture their creativity. To face an uncertain and risky future, the arts hold the key to creative problem solving. Hold music festivals, theater productions and poetry readings in your community. This will not only enhance your local culture, but will provide an opportunity for people to get together.
* Strive to look different. Hippies used long hair as a political statement. It is good to stand out from the crowd. Conformity is a sign of weakness and lack of creativity. Welcome stares from the straights. Be willing to stand up for your beliefs and express yourself. Buy clothes for comfort and durability, not fashion. Feel free to get naked in your home or any other private area. Don’t be ashamed of your body.
* Be tolerant of others and welcome diversity in your neighborhoods. Seek out and learn from people from different backgrounds and cultures. Don’t attack someone whose views are different from yours. It is good to disagree at times. (You learn more from disagreeing with someone than you do agreeing with them.) Above all, form your own opinions after considering various points of view.
* Openly express your opinions via bumper stickers, t-shirts and other displays. Gives people something to think about while in traffic jams. Some of mine include: “Question Authority,” “Question Assumptions,” “If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space,” and “You must be the change that you want to see.”
* We all need to contribute more to society. Make sure that your career choice is a form of right livelihood. Do what is in the best interest of yourself and society. Remember as Eldridge Cleaver said “If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.”
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