The Urban Hippie: What does meditation look like to you?

Saturday, April 18, 2026

My meditation life is more like a beautiful mosaic of colors, sounds and tactile components. And yours can be, as well. Don’t let anyone tell you different. Some people confuse “different” with “wrong.” We’re not building jet engines, we’re just trying to give our own “gravity vehicles” the strength and serenity they need to help us live our best lives. It doesn’t have be any deeper than that.

The Urban Hippie: Setting Expectations

Friday, April 3, 2026Friday, April 3, 2026

There’s a phrase I learned in recovery that advises expectations are just delayed disappointments. Which I find very helpful. Don’t have expectations of other people’s behaviors, success or failures. Be supportive but have strong boundaries. And realize their journey is their own. Not what you might hope, pray or expect it to be.

The Urban Hippie: Women’s History Month – Judy Beigbedier

Saturday, March 28, 2026Friday, March 27, 2026

I first met the woman who was going to change my life forever in early summer 2004. I had recently discovered a wonderful hobby, Letterboxing, and went to a gathering to meet other “‘boxers”. Judy was pretty new to the hobby herself and attended the same gathering. Letterboxing is a fantastic, truly one size fits all hobby.

The Urban Hippie: Walking Labyrinths

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Labyrinths have been around almost as long as humans have. There have been rudimentary labyrinths discovered among Neolithic ruins in cultures and locations all around the world.

Baby, you can drive my car!

Thursday, February 19, 2026

This column is about a particular car that was gifted to me at a particular time in history that honestly saved my sanity and is now a part of our family lore.

The Urban Hippie: Thanks to Bob Weir the music never stopped

Saturday, January 24, 2026

I had planned to write this column a few months from now but real life happens and a moment presents itself. Bobby Weirs’ recent passing made me want to write this sooner rather than later.

Jessica Boehman, "Bedtime Stories" 2013. Colored pencil and pencil. www.jessicaboehman.com

Keep calm and hygge on

Friday, January 9, 2026Friday, January 9, 2026

A couple of years ago a lovely young woman I worked with named Juli told me about a Danish custom called Hygge. I love to learn about various cultural observances and practices as I think the world has so many wonderful things in it, I want to learn as much as I can about all of it! If we learn and share together we can learn to respect and celebrate each other better.

The Urban Hippie: Confessions of a Happy Holiday Slacker

Saturday, April 18, 2026Sunday, December 28, 2025

The first year I didn’t decorate was probably weird. But not enough that I remember what year it was. I just remember thinking “I don’t need this to enjoy the season, so I’m not putting myself through this nonsense anymore.”

The Urban Hippie: Generation Who?

Saturday, April 18, 2026Thursday, December 4, 2025

Instead of Howdy Doody we had Scooby Do. We heard all about Woodstock and the Summer of Love but watched the Watergate hearings on TV with our Mom and raced home every day after school to watch Dark Shadows. My older siblings loved Bandstand and the Jerry Blavet show on our local Philly TV stations. My little sister and I watched Soul Train. One of my older siblings and I compared our childhood experiences once and realized they were nothing alike. It was like we were raised in two different families. And by two different sets of parents.

Eternal gratitude to the woman who raised the woman who raised me

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Saturday, July 11, 2020

“I wish I had paid more attention…listened more to the stories.” I read that over and over from friends as we age and lose those that came before us. I am living that same exact regret now at this moment in history. It’s not that I miss my mom so much as wish I could remember her stories better.

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