Some things are worth bringing back—not because they’re trendy, but because they were true.
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I came of age in a time when peace signs were more than a fashion statement, and "make love, not war" was a call to consciousness. We weren’t perfect, but many of us were trying to live from the heart. Somewhere along the way, that idealism got labeled naive or unrealistic. But now, more than ever, we need to resurrect what we knew then: Love is still the way.
These ideas were supported in the music we listened to, in the way people gathered, and in our stand against the war machine at that time. In my home, we celebrated our national pride, as one of my brothers was in the army and another in the navy. However, we were also lovers of life and people from all walks of life. In my home, we lived in a both/and atmosphere.
As I continue to watch families break apart due to the current polarizing political climate, I REFUSE. I refuse to “not talk to” or “not love” my family. I will not allow this administration to take away my sanity or my love for my family – even while I sternly disagree with their political views, I hold onto our roots and our connections and prioritize them over all else.
Let’s resurrect some of these old values:
Value #1: Radical Love (Even for Strangers)
We hugged each other more. We made eye contact. We treated people like kin, not competition.
Why It Matters Now: In a world of isolation and division, love as a first response is revolutionary. It rebuilds community, soothes mental health, and reminds us that we belong to each other.
Value #2: Simplicity
Less stuff, more experience. We believed that life was for *living*, not accumulating.
Why It Matters Now: With burnout, consumer debt, and endless scrolling, simplicity reconnects us with presence, joy, and sustainability.
Minimalism is on the rise, but only in a small portion of our society. As long as we think we need things to be happy, we will be chasing an elusive dream that will never satisfy our soul.
Value #3: Nonconformity as Sacred
Being “weird” was a badge of honor. We questioned authority. We valued self-expression. (We are cultural creatives) This value is alive and well, as evidenced in our piercing and tattooing culture, but unfortunately, those non-conformists are often dismissed or overlooked as individuals who have value in today's society.
Why It Matters Now: In an era of curated perfection and performative success, authenticity is a balm. The courage to live outside the box inspires others to do the same. This value expressed is a great way to stand up against the machine of more, more, more.
Value #4: Planet Consciousness
We loved the Earth. Not in theory, but in how we lived, composted, marched, and connected to the land.
Why It Matters Now: Climate change is real. Earth doesn’t need our nostalgia—she needs our action. The hippie mindset can return as a sacred environmental ethic. It is time for us to learn from our Native American families and the true lineage of this land. They live for and from the land, and the corporate machine spits on these connections, almost laughing at our caring.
Value #5: Peace as a Daily Practice
Peace wasn’t just anti-war. It was a state of mind, a tone of voice, a way of resolving conflict.
Why It Matters Now: Inner peace leads to outer peace. If we could all remember how to breathe before reacting, the world might just change a little faster.
This is the mission statement of the community I founded almost twenty-five years ago. “We are a community of people – who choose love – one person at a time.”
And this is the peace practice that we have used for over twenty years, although it has been updated due to the current political climate:
(This is spoken aloud every Sunday as a call and response.)
I am the peace I want to see.
I know this peace for my family.
I know this peace for my community.
My community knows this peace for our country.
My community knows this peace for the world.
I’m not saying we all need to wear tie-dye and burn incense (though I still do). But I am saying that the wisdom of love, of gentleness, of curiosity, and care will be a radical move against the divisiveness and hatred that is being cultivated.
When you do not allow what is happening around you to make you hateful, you are a force to be reckoned with.
For my husband and me, when you walk up to our front door, you are greeted with a peace sign hanging right there as you walk in.
Begin your journey with Shadow Work. Click here for a link to my book.
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So, folks - my advice - from an Ex-Hippie:
Choose love, be authentic, refuse to hate, spend your money where it has an impact, plant a tree, practice forgiveness, practice gratitude every day, and vote to elevate.
