🎈 What I Learned from Psychedelic Hippies

Every summer, I take off my professional mask and venture out to festivals.

Festival culture is unique. Humans are exceedingly open, friendly, cheerful, and playful. There's gifting. There are funny outfits. There's a willingness to appreciate new perspectives.

Unfortunately, there's also a lot of drugs.

And alcohol.

And escapism.

And smoking.

Typical partygoers are not my people. But they want what I have — the ability to create joy from within and get high on their own supply. The mindset of loving reality as it is, not needing it to be any different.

I am acknowledged for this skill. People are impressed. And it keeps me going back. Eager learners are fun to educate.

Whenever I am educating partygoers at a festival, my message is this. There are alternative ways to socialize that generate more joy and energy. To change your quality of life, change the quality of your social interactions.

Me, standing in the very back.