Welcome to Think Counterculture!

This space is dedicated to exploring how thoughts, words and deeds can be focused to bring about positive social change. Here we recognize the world-altering power of ideas and intention.

My name is Chris Rorden. I am a wife and mother, and I grow grapes and make wine for a living. I am passionate about music, culture and history. I also enjoy writing. And for years I have struggled with a sense that American culture is on a dangerous trajectory. Although there are many wonderful and exciting aspects of this culture, such as high speed Internet, ethnic restaurants, classic rock and advances in modern medicine, there is also a sense that we are losing things of great value. Many (including me) feel a disconnect between our personal values and those of American culture at large—the American culture of mass media, voracious consumerism and fast food chains.

And there are visible signs that our society is sick. Mass shootings are becoming commonplace. Politics are growing increasingly polarized and dysfunctional. Mega corporations put profit ahead of the common good. People are working harder than ever, and are still having trouble making ends meet. With fragmented families and two working parents, our children are no longer raised by “villages” that offer a support system spanning generations—they are increasingly raised by their peer groups and suffering from depression. At the other end of the age spectrum, our elders are frequently ignored and institutionalized, rather than being revered for their wisdom and experience.

The list goes on and on. It is enough to make even the most upbeat optimist despair! Unfortunately, hopeless tends to render us impotent. After all, with all that is wrong in the world, how can one person make a difference?

“Like a pebble dropped into a lake, our words and actions send out tiny ripples that spread through our families, communities, society and world, influencing the collective consciousness for better or worse.”

And despair I did, for a time. But then I discovered something amazing. In the face of unspeakable tragedies and hardships, heroes rise up, again and again. These are not people you would see in the spotlight or headlines; rather, they are unsung heroes. Just ordinary people responding out of empathy, picking up the pieces, giving hope, doing their part. Yes, we live in dark and troubled times, but at the same time there are forces of light, hope and love moving in the world—and growing. Could we perhaps be on the verge of a shift?

Like a pebble dropped into a lake, our words and actions send out tiny ripples that spread through our families, communities, society and world, influencing the collective consciousness for better or worse. We can choose whether or how to engage in the discourse. We can give in to the gravitational pull of our cultural trajectory, or do our part to chart a new path.

Journey with me.

Over the coming weeks and months, I will share stories of unsung heroes, random acts of kindness, and individuals and organizations that are making ripples in positive and inspiring ways. I will also ask you, the reader, to engage with some powerful ideas and visions for the future. This is not a forum for political discussion or debate. Rather, my goal is to challenge conventional ways of thinking, and to encourage the actions and productive collaboration of compassionate people so that we can move toward healing our nation and world--one deed, one word, one person at a time.