hon·est t/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation adjective 1. honorable in principles, intentions, and actions; upright and fair 2. showing uprightness and fairness 3 genuine or unadulterated 4.respectable; having a good reputation 5. truthful or creditable 6. humble honesty
noun
1.	the quality of being honest
2.	southeastern European plant cultivated for its fragrant purplish flowers and round flat papery silver-white seedpods that are used for indoor decoration c.1330, from O.Fr. honesté, from L. honestatem (nom. honestas) "honor, honesty," from honestus (see honest). In Eng., the word originally had more to do with honor. I don't think that I have ever understood and/or appreciated the profound value of honesty as I have this past week. (And I'm not talking about the purple flower with the silvery seedpods, just so we're clear). I realize that honesty is not limited to telling the truth--it goes much deeper than that. One must actually defy the fear of vulnerability,including rejection, judgment, or pain. If I think about it, it is from the moments of extreme vulnerability that I have learned the most about life and my character. I am a certified control-freak, wanting also to plan ahead for every situation, often putting the contentedness of others ahead of my own, if need be, in order to make the situation better. The thought of disrupting this equilibrium is literally terrifying to me. I analyze it from every possible angle, working out possible avenues of fulfillment with their subsequent results. Like clockwork, I try and try and try to figure it out until, as always, the answer becomes as clear as day: be honest. It's as simple and as difficult as that. It reminds me of a rather gaff wall hanging that has been gathering dust in my parents' kitchen since before the dawn of creation: "It takes both the sun and rain to make a rainbow." What is remarkable, however, is when communication reaches a new level at which both people are truly genuine and undisguised in their interactions with one another. I forgot how beautiful that is. I'm rather overwhelmed by it if I think about it too much. It happens so rarely, even among the closest relationships. This experience is a welcome blessing after a storm.