I recently visited my friend Sally, and found that we have something in common. What is that you might ask? People often call us "hippies". My sister commented to me that when she and her husband first read my birth story, they both thought I was a "flaming hippie". One man my husband works with said to him, "Carl, you and Hilary are two of the most conservative hippies I have ever met."I agree with Sally when she said, "I don't even know what that means. What's a hippie?" I think hippies are from a bygone era. . . like 1960's. Here are the characteristics I think of when I hear the word "hippie". . .
1) They smoked pot
2) didn't have jobs
3) had all kinds of sex with all kinds of other hippies.
4) Their value system consisted of "free love"
5) Believing in nature as their god
6) not wearing bras.
I am opposite of all of these things. Here are my characteristics. . .
1) I am strongly opposed to ANY kind of illegal drug use.
2) I have a job and believe every adult male under the age of 65 and every under-65 female not raising children should too
3) I am 100% monogomous and committed to my marriage relationship and I think people who have premarital sex are stupid (at the very least because they will contract a venereal disease and their children will be put at risk).
4) God gives us commandments for our own good so we don't become miserable and self-destructive.
5) I strongly strongly believe there is a God with a loving plan for us.
6) I SURE DO wear a bra at all times in public
You know, I think I've been called a hippie because I believe in natural childbirth, breastfeeding, and making my own yogurt. Maybe some people feel threatened by the fact that my baby has always been a good breastfeeder and they are jealous and want to find something wrong with me. Oh geez! Maybe they don't think I wear a bra so I can just whip 'em out at any time to feed the baby! How embarrassing! I really am "supported" if you know what I mean.
I also believe in the healing powers of herbs, that might be the clincher. It's not because I think nature is god, though. It's because herbs have up to 24 different protective chemical compounds in one plant that make it impossible for bacteria to mutate and penetrate. Pharmaceuticals, on the other hand, are made up of just one or a few chemicals in very pure form, so bacteria can walk right up to a commercial antibiotic, change clothes, and walk right through the door. This is how we end up with antibiotic resistance. Get it? It's impossible for a bacteria to find an outfit that none of 24 different compounds would recognize. Plants are very complex and naturally produce toxins when they are physically threatened.
Anyway, enough of that. I don't believe in anything unless I can make sense of it. I don't believe in voting for a president with an atrocious voting record while in the Senate. Apparently, my sister and her husband who called me a hippe do. I just do what makes sense and Sally and I came to the conclusion that you just can't categorize that. What do you think?
you're so not a hippie, i'd say you're 'natural', you're simply using the brain God gave you - nothing wrong with that!
ReplyDeleteand hey now, dont diss premarital sex too much, without it you'd be down 2 nephews! haha
luv ya, kisses to jude, poor baby getting beat up by the other kids!
No, you're not a hippie. Someone needs to think about that "hippie" definition before they just blurt out that people are such. You certainly don't look like a hippie- you are both modern and stylish. You don't do those things you mentioned that are "hippish". I love that you adhere to the moral commandments that are placed in the church (so not hippie). You also should be proud that you know of such alternative ways to heal and help our bodies through the natural way of herbs.
ReplyDeleteHilary, you are a very forward girl. I agree with you though.
ReplyDeleteHilarious!!! Glad to know you wear a bra in public at all times! I strongly suspected so.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that you were a hippie! :)
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and can't wait to try out your yogurt recipe. My kids eat yogurt by the gallon, so it sounds like this recipe will be perfect for us!
Thanks for sharing your birth story, how amazing! Good for you. I am a wimp and had an epidural both times; I definitely don't regret anything though.
You are a little harsh on hospital birth! I think that the real problem is that women don't educate themselves about birth and often have many misconceptions. Did you know that every hospital must follow the wishes of the patient? Yes, you have a right to not be seen by students if you choose not to. I think that it is possible to have a wonderful birth experience in a hospital setting (I did twice!).
I guess I too am biased--being a postpartum nurse at a hospital. (The U of U hospital is the ONLY baby friendly hospital in the state!) It is important for women to be empowered to make the best choice for her body and her baby, what ever that may be. One choice is not necessarily better than the other.
I am so glad that you are breastfeeding! I just don't know why breastfeeding is not more accepted. The benefits are phenomenal. Ok, I admit, I am that mom that whips it out at the park and breastfeeds in the open (not always, but when it’s a hundred degrees outside, why should my baby suffer just because she's hungry?)
Oh yeah, and I am definitely NOT a hippie!
Ha ha Hilary, you are tooooo funny. And yes, I agree, calling someone a hippie is stereotyping and I don't like to be categorized. I should probably say though, that I don't believe there IS a definition for a hippie. The term "hippie" means something different to everyone. So, to be honest, I couldn't feel right in calling someone a hippie who fell into your definitions, either. To me, "hippie" is an old burnt out term, which has become completely undefinable. People call me a hippie, but I don't know what that means.
ReplyDeleteFor years I have denied any and all claims that I am a hippie. But once, a few years ago, I was in St. George, and I had been there for a couple days, because my car was broken and I kept trying to fix it, and I had slept under cardboard boxes for a few nights, and I was a little dirty, and I bet my beard was a bit rumpled, and my cut off shorts were sort of torn up, and I was working on my volkswagen van, and my hair was held out of my face by an old bandana, and then some guy I had never met walked by and made some sort of comment about me being a hippie. I was about to yell a denial, but then I kinda looked at myself and my situation. I realized that even though I knew full well I was no hippie, I was not in a position to make a very strong arguement. So I just let his claim go unchallenged.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have to say that birthMOM has a point. I can't say that I should ever be the one to teach the chastity lesson to the young women. I might slip up and say something like, "Well, just try to do the best you can, but....."
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone on here "You are not a hippie", except I do have to say that just because people do things a little differently doesn't mean they are "stupid." Just see or know things from a different perspective.
ReplyDeleteWe sure miss you guys, hope to see you soon.
If your going to be labeled with an alternative label maybe hippie is'nt so bad. I think hippies are perceived as genuine and natural. It's a lot better than being labeled as a yuppie!
ReplyDeleteYou are positively priceless. I lived with REAL hippies for a year on Saltspring Island, and I tell you what, you are not a hippie, you are just a normal girl living amongst very socially fed yuppies. I went to a birthing class there where everyone was having natural births, and there was a hippie through and through there that was really upset. The nurse and dula had just acted out what a home birth might be like...complete with pretending to throw up and thinking she had to poo. It was strange but helpful, but the Hippie afore mentioned said very passionately that pain while having birth was social conditioning, and that if we were really true to ourselves and nature, we would have no pain, only exhilaration. He then very huffily stomped out of the class. I just felt sorry for his partner (who stayed) What woman wants the belief that if you feel pain while having a baby then you are socially conditioned! Living with Hippies I found all they are is contradictions who are very opinionated.
ReplyDeleteSmart reasoning Lindy. Very articulate. i love your "living amongst very socially conditioned yuppies comment." If we are not striving to be what they are striving to be, we might be called hippies, or a variety of other labels.
ReplyDelete-GULP-
ReplyDeleteBet you didn't think I'd read this eh?
Oh Missy! You already know I don't agree with you politically. This was never meant to hurt your feelings. Are you okay with it?
ReplyDelete