Born Too Late: My Love for the Hippie Movement

Born Too Late: My Love for the Hippie Movement

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been enamored with the Hippie Movement. It all started with my Aunt Judy, who played a pivotal role in shaping my love for music. She introduced me to the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, when I was just three years old. He became my first celebrity crush, and from that moment, my musical tastes blossomed under her influence. Aunt Judy’s vinyl collection was like a time machine, transporting me to an era of peace, love, and incredible music. Thanks to her, I grew up listening to The Beatles, The Doobie Brothers, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Joe Walsh, and The Mamas & The Papas. These artists left an indelible mark on me, and I’ve always felt a deep connection to that time in history.

I’ve often felt like I don’t belong in this post-Summer-of-Love world. The 1980s passed by in a blur as I was too young to fully understand or appreciate the trends of the decade. And when I became a teenager in the early 1990s, I found myself rejecting the mainstream. Tight-rolling my jeans and curling my bangs? No, thank you. Instead, I grew my hair out long—no bangs!—and opted for flare-leg jeans and Doc Marten boots. While the world around me embraced grunge and pop culture, I held on to something different. I didn’t want to follow the crowd; I wanted to stay true to what felt natural to me. At the time, I thought I was ahead of my generation, but now, I realize I might just be a reincarnated hippie.

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me I was born three decades too late, I’d be a very wealthy woman. I’ve always related more to the counterculture movement than to the fast-paced, material-driven world we live in now. The hippie ethos of love, peace, freedom, and community resonates deeply with me. It wasn’t just the music that captivated me—it was the entire lifestyle. I admired how the hippies rebelled against societal norms, advocating for love, understanding, and acceptance in a world that often felt cold and divided.

The movement itself was more than a protest against war or a rejection of mainstream values. It was a search for something deeper—a desire for love, freedom, and a sense of belonging. The hippies were seeking connection, community, and a place where they could express their authentic selves. In a 1968 article, Baptist Pastor John Bisagno once said, “The kids are searching for authority, love, and understanding—ingredients missing at home. Jesus is what their fathers aren’t.” His words resonated with the era’s search for meaning, love, and acceptance in a world that seemed to lack those very things.

Even now, I see traces of that search in modern-day movements, but nothing feels quite as genuine or powerful as the original counterculture of the 1960s and 1970s. The hippies had something special—a sense of unity and a desire to create a better world, despite the turbulence around them. They were unapologetically themselves, and that’s something I’ve always admired and tried to emulate.

So while I might have missed the Summer of Love by a few decades, I still carry its spirit with me every day. Whether it’s through the music I listen to or the values I hold dear, that connection to the hippie movement will always be a part of me. Maybe I was born in the wrong era, but that just means my heart is a little more colorful and a lot more free.