Who Is Hippie Echo?

I call myself Hippie Echo. My friends in the chat groups sometimes just call me Hippie. To the world, I'm an unimportant human among the billions on earth. I just happened to grow up in a tumultuous time in America. Now we're facing another tumultuous time, and I guess I'm trying to make sense of where we are and how we got here. Mostly, I'm looking for the way out of this mess. What can we do to move America in a better direction and leave future generations with a stable, successful country that's a positive influence on the world? Did the hippies in America in the '60s and '70s know something that could be useful to us today?

I'm hoping some lessons from the hippie generation might help us get through the minefield of American politics in the 2020s. I've heard that history can be helpful if we study it and take note of the lessons there. My generation lived through some pretty impactful times. What can we add to the conversation? Who were the hippies, a particular segment of my generation, and what advice can they share with us? Why would I know hippie "survival tricks"? Was I really a hippie? What background and experience give me the right to join the conversation? 

---

By all rights, I should have been a hippie. I'm a Baby Boomer. I was born in 1950. I came of age as the hippies were bursting onto the scene with their bell-bottom pants and flower themed clothing, and music that spoke with passion. The hippies definitely left their mark on America and the world!

But I grew up in a small town that most people in this country had never heard of, too small to generate much in the way of “wild youth.” On top of that, I was shy and not really the adventurous type. Probably not hippie material. I had no clue what life offered me, or even what I wanted. I wasn't inclined to "make a mark" on the world. I was just trying to find my place in it.

The Magic of Music

That began to change as music caught my attention. Like many young people of the time, I listened, and music introduced me to the world in ways nothing else could. Music drew me out of my shell a little as I cautiously began to explore life's possibilities.

The music of the Beatles and so many other great artists spoke to me. Music woke me up and told me to get out and explore the world. I was shy and hesitant, but curious. And music began to draw me out. I'm betting I have that in common with a lot of people, not exclusively with those of my generation.

I eventually came out of my shell a little more. For a time, I wore a headband and bell-bottom pants. I had a colorful shirt or two. Music opened my eyes to the possibilities. I was beginning to explore and question. But a hippie? No, not really. I couldn't legitimately claim that title.

Growing Through, and Past, The Hippie Era

I wasn’t protesting anything or using drugs. I was nothing like the hippies who blazed across America. If you were shy too, maybe you understand the feeling of watching from the sidelines, not taking action, of wondering what you wanted from life, or what you had to offer.

I just made my way into adulthood quietly, not demanding attention. I was content. I didn’t know much about politics or social issues. (Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.)

But now I've managed to live for decades in this country. I've observed, and I've learned. I like to think I've contributed in some small way to society as I've lived through the years.

What Can Hippies Tell Us?

With time, aging (and hopefully a little insight) I want to share some of what I've learned and experienced over the years. I hope some of the "hippie wisdom" of the '60s and '70s might be useful in today's crazy times. There may be some clues to survival buried in our past. Let's find out.

This site is my little piece of America's past, whispering to America's present, sharing hopes and dreams for America's future. I hope it adds something of value.