It’s often said it takes a village to raise a child but the same can be said about an independent, nonprofit news organization. Over the next two weeks we’ll introduce or in some cases re-introduce the people who make Watershed Voice what it is today.
Charles Thomas
WSV’s Charles Thomas writes about legacy, immortality, and the importance of perspective during a long life lived.
WSV’s Charles Thomas argues a person doesn’t have to attend an Ivy League school to better their lives or the lives of their children in this week’s “Big World, Small Town.”
WSV’s Charles Thomas writes, “Denial is considered an unhealthy defense mechanism while suppression is considered healthy. Sure, you could sit around all day and ponder the inevitability of death, but thanks to suppression, most of us are able to put that nasty little detail out of our minds and do the dishes, mow the lawn or write the column. But the denial of death, on the other hand, can lead to people making risky decisions or living what Plato called ‘an unexamined life.’ When it comes to defense mechanisms, it’s important to make the healthy choice.”
WSV’s Charles Thomas tells the story of Spencer Silver and Art Fry, who together invented Post-It Notes in the 1970s, as an example of the “amazing things (that) can happen when people collaborate.”
WSV’s Charles Thomas writes, “I know a lot of people my age often talk about how contemporary music isn’t as good as it was when they were younger, but that hasn’t been my impression. There’s still a lot of great music being made in 2021. What has struck me, though, as I compare the music of my youth to the music of today is the general lack of musicianship in today’s popular music. I’ve sampled dozens of popular songs in the last few weeks and I’ve been struck by the total and complete lack of songs featuring a guitar solo, or any instrumental solo for that matter.”
Watershed Voice set out to find how this pandemic is affecting young people in southwest Michigan, speaking to local mental health experts and teens alike. Throughout the past year, the coronavirus pandemic has drastically altered lives across the world; people have lost their jobs, lost loved ones, and had to put their lives on hold. That feeling of going on pause has especially affected young people, who feel removed from some of the most formative years of their lives. It’s no wonder these feelings of isolation and helplessness have taken a toll on child and adolescent mental health.
WSV columnist and licensed psychotherapist Charles Thomas writes, “Sometimes, in the midst of a crisis, a tiny dose of compassion, and a little help keeping things in perspective can be very powerful medicine.”
WSV Columnist Charles Thomas writes, “While it’s great to aim high, such lofty goals have a major downside. When our resolution is to lose 50 pounds, it’s hard to get very excited when we’ve lost five pounds. That’s just a drop in the bucket, a mere 10 percent of the goal! But when we start smaller and make our initial goal to lose five pounds, we can celebrate an actual victory as we plan how to take the next step.”
Watershed Voice Columnist Charles Thomas writes about his upbringing, and the greatest gift his father ever gave him.
In his latest column WSV’s Charles Thomas reviews The Trial of the Chicago 7. The film, written and directed by The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin, tells the true story of seven men federally charged with inciting violence during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
In the real world, recovery from addiction is often a lengthy and agonizing process, both for the addict and their loved ones. Recovery happens in fits and starts and repeated relapse is almost always part of the marathon road to sobriety. In fact, real world recovery looks less like that The Bold and the Beautiful storyline and more like the public trials being faced by St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough.
“The invisible hand of the market is the most powerful unseen cultural force in our lives. But it’s not the only one.”
Local author and Watershed Voice columnist Charles Thomas penned the following flash fiction titled “The Methodist Bells.”
“We ring the bells to praise our God, to celebrate our love, and to grieve our loss.”
Local author and Watershed Voice columnist Charles Thomas returns with some flash fiction titled “Love Sick.”
“We all want a life filled with love, but how and where can we find it?”
“Nine years ago, my family and I said our final goodbyes to our home on East Street in Three Rivers and moved into the big world beyond the triple ripples. Well actually, we moved up to Portage, which I suppose isn’t really that big or that far away, but the move was the closing of one chapter of our lives and the beginning of another. We lived in TR for over 12 years, years that were undoubtedly some of the happiest of my life.”
“Welcome to the first clickbait listicle I’ve ever written. […] I wanted to write a piece that would be fun, interesting and might even introduce readers to new music they’d love. So without further ado, here’s my list of the 15 greatest albums of all time. As many a clickbait article has promised before, you will be shocked!”
“The Ticket” is a work of short fiction written by former Three Rivers resident and local author Charles Thomas. The story has been split into seven parts over the last several weeks, with “Ernie Slips” representing the final act. The complete saga can be found on Watershed Voice.