17 Comments
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JK Stenjem's avatar

What a touching, wonderful tribute and reflection.

Karen O'Brien's avatar

Thank you, Janine!

Cathy Fitzgerald's avatar

So sorry for your loss of a dear student Karen. What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful young woman. We owe the next generations so much more.

Karen O'Brien's avatar

Thank you Cathy -- I agree that the next generations deserve so much more!

Linda Urban's avatar

I'm so sorry for this loss, Karen, this loss of Siri to you and to the world. Your words to her ring out with so much love and care, for Siri, for her whole generation, those of us here, those of us to come. Truly, it is difficult times that we must keep finding the path through.

Karen O'Brien's avatar

Thank you Linda. We do have to keep forging the path through all of this, together.

Simp Of Human Progress (M)'s avatar

Thank you for sharing, I just saved the article and will read it soon.

Jonathan Tonkin's avatar

That's beautiful, Karen, and so sad!

Gean van Erp's avatar

Impressive post. You can feel alone but you can never be alone! The perception of me is a reflection of you and vice versa. Quantum social change 1 on 1 and by sharing your story/experience it becomes a possibility for quantum social change. I love your book 'You matter more than you think' We matter everything into being together.

Karen O'Brien's avatar

Thank you, Gean.

Re-story: het kan wél anders's avatar

This is such a beautiful way to pay tribute. And to bring up suicide. Not to ignore it. Last year at Re-story's General Assembly, we “splayed” “Across the Line” which allows people to see that they are much more alike, or going through similar events, than they think. When asked “Who in their immediate circle has lost someone to suicide?” more than 80% stepped over the line. What if we paid tribute to all those people with a letter like you have now written for Siri?

Karen O'Brien's avatar

Thank you! It is remarkable how many of us have been affected by suicides. If only we could all learn to "splay" across the line at a young age to realize we are never alone.

Matthew Green's avatar

So heartbreaking to read this, so beautifully expressed -- I feel an echo of your grief. Thank you for bringing Siri's essence to us. I will be walking with what I have read here for a long time.

Karen O'Brien's avatar

Thank you, Matthew.

DJ Schiffman's avatar

So sad.

Cindy Carpenter's avatar

A beautiful tribute. I’m so very sorry for your loss. Yes, we owe young people so much more

Karen O'Brien's avatar

Thank you, Cindy.