Choosing Honesty: The Power in Our Word

 Dear Sunya,

We have reached an important milestone: we are now concluding the first week of the second quarter of the 21st century.  How did we get here so fast? Welcome and Happy New Year!

 Between now and the first day of spring, I review and reflect.  I've been thinking about how life doesn’t always unfold the way we plan. Circumstances arise that result in a promise broken, a task left unfinished, or the inability to show up as we intended. Sometimes things are simply out of our control. 

 What matters most in those moments is how we behave. Do we acknowledge the change honestly, without waiting to be asked? Do we communicate clearly when we cannot follow through? Or do we hide behind silence, hoping no one notices?

 When I’ve caught myself in dishonesty, I’ve realized it was often rooted in fear—fear of not being accepted, fear of exposing a weakness, fear of disappointing someone. But dishonesty erodes trust. It makes others feel less safe around us, and it weakens our own integrity.

 Honesty in our spoken word is powerful. It is the foundation of trust. It is how we show respect for others and for ourselves. As mature Black women, our authenticity is one of the most valuable things we own.

 Here are questions to carry into this new year:

 Do I honor my word, even in small commitments?

 When I cannot follow through, do I acknowledge it openly and promptly?

 What fears keep me from telling the truth?

 Am I keeping my agreements—to others, and to myself?

 Our authenticity is our strength. When we choose honesty, we choose integrity. When we live in truth, we create safety, trust, and transformation—for ourselves and for those around us.

 For me, this newsletter itself has been part of that practice. Month after month, I’ve committed to showing up from my personal desk, sharing reflections that are both professional and personal. That consistency has been an act of honesty—choosing to be visible, choosing to be real.

This month, I'm sharing these images of 2 Rothko paintings, because I can get lost in the works of this painter as I'm reflecting, pondering... imagining.  Simple blocks of layered color give way to imagination and a sense of calm.  (You, too, can experience some of Rothko's iconic paintings in Washington, DC at the National Gallery of Art. The Phillips Collection at Dupont Circle has a specially curated Rothko Room for contemplation and reflection.)

 May 2026 bring you immense joy and the opportunities to reflect and experience peace in the midst of so much change.

I close today with sincere declarations for your prosperity and well-being,

Sunya