John R. Dallas, Jr.

Greetings! Eastertide offers a wideangle lens through which to focus a while on each spring’s spirit of hope and renewal.

Moral minds, hearts, and souls—of any faith tradition or none—choose to breathe deeply into Easter’s vision of ultimate triumph and new beginnings.

With gratitude’s energy and power, let’s continue to aim our thoughts, prayers, and other ethical efforts toward inclusive love, genuine compassion, unconditional forgiveness, and peaceful unity for all.

Gratefully,

John

Friends, on 1 May 2025, I'm shutting down two of my four pages, this and We Need to Have a Word.

Enclave Academy for Entrepreneurs and Other Leaders and my family and friends pages I'll keep active.

For two Instagram accounts and the "Live from Studio75" podcast library, a social media volunteer for Enclave Academy will soon start to manage valuable posts.

Please try to follow my steady stream of nearly 30,000 original posts on "Xtwitter" (29,900 as of today, since 2008). Nearly every post is written to humbly yet purposefully share insights and perspective related to strengthening cognitive agility for leaders and others who aim to stay mentally alert and oriented for as long as possible. (X accounts are forever free and needn't be used to post.)

Thank you for your interest in this rarely used public page.

https://x.com/JohnRDallasJr

Here's to a toast of thinking for a thoughtful 4th of July 2024!

Arguing, as I do when I speak about the vitality of mastering metacognition, that "The freedom to think freely is the greatest of all freedoms" can be approached from various perspectives, I introduce a headful of philosophical, practical, and historical views (see quote in posted image):

1. Free Thinking is Fundamental and Foundational to Individual Autonomy

Personal Autonomy: The freedom to think allows individuals to form their own beliefs, values, and opinions. Without this freedom, personal autonomy is severely compromised because people can't/won't develop their own identities or make independent choices.

Basis for Other Freedoms: Many other freedoms—such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly—are built upon the foundation of free thinking. If individuals cannot think freely, these other freedoms lose their meaning.

2. Driving Force of Innovation and Progress

Innovation: Free Thinking is crucial for and . It's the metacognitive ability to think outside of accepted norms and challenge the status quo that leads to scientific discoveries, technological advancements, and artistic achievements.

Problem-Solving: By fostering a diversity of ideas and perspectives, the freedom to think freely allows societies to tackle complex problems more effectively.

3. Vital for a Democratic Society

Informed Citizenry: For democracy to function properly, citizens must be able to think critically and independently. This includes questioning authority, evaluating evidence, and engaging in thoughtful, humble, and respectful debate.

Citizen thinkers and their elected thinkers—especially the Thinker-in-Chief of the United States—must pause to think about their thinking long enough to identify their best available LEARNED mindsets and specific types of thinking required, all the while remaining vigilant and resistant to risky they can name and describe.

Pluralism: A healthy thrives on a plurality of thoughts and ideas, which can coexist and compete in the public sphere, leading to deeper insights and more robust and reliable decision-making.

4. Historical Lessons

Totalitarian Regimes: History shows that suppressing free thinking is a common tactic of totalitarian regimes.

Control over what people think typically leads to broader suppression of freedoms and human rights.

Intellectual Movements: Many of the world's most significant intellectual and social movements, like the Renaissance and the Scottish Enlightenment, were grounded in the unfettered (i.e., free-thinking) exchange of deeper, wider, and higher insights and free-flowing ideas.

5. Personal Fulfillment

Self-Expression and Growth: The freedom to think is intrinsic to personal development, fulfillment, and flourishing instead of languishing.

Free thinking allows individuals to explore their interests, understand themselves better, and pursue their passions.

Mental Health: Psychological well-being is closely linked to the ability to think freely and honestly about oneself and one’s circumstances. Suppressing free thought can lead to cognitive dissonance, mental distress, moral injury, and more adverse outcomes.

The freedom to think freely is, therefore, not just another freedom but the bedrock upon which all other freedoms stand, I believe.

Do you agree?

Free thinking is essential for personal growth, societal progress, and for the sustainable functioning of democratic institutions.

Do you agree?

In its absence, other freedoms cannot flourish, making it arguably the greatest of all freedoms.

Do you agree? —JRDjr

https://x.com/JohnRDallasJr/status/1808906162303098956

In the absence of grandchildren about whom to gush, time for leisure travel to report, or comfort with any discussion regarding today's politics, mostly all I have to share with my Facebook pals are snapshots of professional and avocational activities— from which you might possibly glean action nable insights or other value.

Free learning events at Enclave Academy for Entrepreneurs and Other Leaders you are welcome to attend (pre-registration required). PDFs of flashcards developed from slide decks I'll happily share.

Your interest is appreciated and your comments will always be welcome.

Sadly, embedded in the link below is a memorial tribute to my cherished departed friend and thinking partner since 1988, Ken Hicks (1962-2024).

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," as teaches us to say and pray.

—John

For more information: https://bit.ly/3KPAoCK

Fathering Day 2024 allows us kids of all ages to honor our dads—and "fathering figures" of any gender—who add vitality and other value to our thinking lives.

Even long after we're on our own, their booming voices and whispers we'll recall.

Choose to prioritize remembering and thinking about their best thinking. Between the lines of your memories, there may be lessons waiting for you to learn.

Healthy Father's Day to all fellow dads and other fathering hearts.

With scores of others, deeply I mourn the wickedly untimely death of my close friend and thinking partner for the past 36 years, Ken Hicks. Fervent prayers and comforting thoughts surround his beloved Agnes and their cherished children, Samantha and Dylan.

Kenny and I met in the late 1980s when we were both active members at Manhattan's Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, and then a decade or so later we joined Chicago's Fourth Presbyterian Church. Unsurprisingly, in both cities we had in common business associates and friends.

Ken's curiosity, creativity, humility, and generosity knew no bounds. Our numerous collaborations were greatly enriched by his tireless personal and professional commitment to excellence.

His volunteer contributions the founding and development of Enclave Academy for Entrepreneurs and Other Leaders will be memorialized in various ways. Over the past seven years, Ken rarely missed any of the Academy's learning events or other activities.

In nearly four decades, truly I've not heard from anyone anything but great admiration, respect, and outright praise for Kenneth Christen Hicks (1962-2024). His legacy is sterling.

In the special place God prepared for Ken, I am certain he is at peace with his remarkable mother, accommodating father, and vivacious younger sister, and also with his father-in-law with whom he shared a sturdy bond. Each good soul died within the last several years.

For those of any faith tradition or none, please join me in honoring in your ways Ken's abundantly generous life on Earth. Thank you.

(When available, I'll append to this post links to obituaries and other information.)

https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/downers-grove-il/kenneth-hicks-11849838

On Memorial Day, we Citizen Thinkers and our Elected Thinkers honor those who died protecting our freedom to think.

With our use of daily metacognition, we think and act in ways worthy of their supreme sacrifice.

Google to study the Longpath Mindset that invites, ignites, and cultivates future-conscious thinking and behavior—at least partly to honor the women and men who gave their all.

Best thoughts are flowing your way this Memorial Day.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metacognition

Even within those for whom an empty tomb is unconvincing, Easter's eggs, bunnies, peeps, candies, baskets, meals, and other symbols of human flourishing bring full circle each spring's promise.

Especially for my cherished daughter Jennifer, other beloved family members, and greatly admired friends I too rarely see in person, feel this warm greeting, please.

For all, my springiest best thoughts and prayers for Eastertide 2024.

"It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart." —Rainer Maria Rilke

If you are nearby on 21 February 2024, please be my guest to honor the 7th year of not-for-profit Enclave Academy for Entrepreneurs and Other Leaders (EA) and the Launch of Year 8's achievements underway for EA's members, friends, faculty, and others fully engaged in our Economic Development Metacognition Mission.

Root logic is simple yet complex, solid yet fluid, and millennia-old and AI-new: Continually broaden and strengthen the decision-making thinking skills of leaders who are committed to building sustainable organizations. Ever-stronger minds support strong local-to-global communities.

Hope you can be with us, at least in thoughts and prayers for continued significant socioeconomic impact.

For more information, please click: https://mailchi.mp/enclaveforentrepreneurs.com/monthly_third_wednesdays_masterclasses_at_enclave_academy-13496490

Are you located in or do you plan to visit the Greater Chicago Metroplex? Please try to schedule participating in a learning event at Enclave Academy for Entrepreneurs and Other Leaders. We're located in the long-time business-minded Village of Hoffman Estates Government, just west of Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Also, feel free to reach out to schedule a coffee to discuss the Academy's "Metacognition Mission," and perhaps a tour of Bell Works Chicagoland and its CoLab at Bell Works facilities.

Click to see the latest e-mailing to leaders of not-for-profit and commercial enterprises—from founders of startups to decision-makers in century-plus-young companies. As a follower of my Facebook accounts, you are welcome here at Enclave Academy. Always.

https://mailchi.mp/enclaveforentrepreneurs.com/monthly_third_wednesdays_masterclasses_at_enclave_academy-13494634