My name is Lauren. I’m divorced (best starter line ever haha), without kids, and currently living in rural Utah to help care for my aging parents (in their 80s).

For the past three years, I haven't been anywhere except doctors' offices and hospitals bc I've been caring for my folks—which I am very grateful I could do after my dad's heart surgeries—I haven't really been able to work, and we live quite remote. Having spent the last 4 Thanksgivings and Xmas’s alone up here (family didn’t have time/couldn’t get up here these last years). Im officially cooked. Burnt out. and feel like I'm losing touch with myself/ who I am.

If you've ever taken care of someone full time, you understand it makes a lot of you. I remind myself people usually get paid and receive time off for this kind of work. But family is family. Ya do what you can…

My parents are on a tight budget from another era and I really need a break… Catch my breath with a little SOLO TIME of some sort and a change of scenery. Nothing crazy. Nothing expensive— like a cheap cruise over Thanksgiving or Christmas or something. This way I can arrange for other family to cover me. I’ve never asked for help like this and it feels.. kinda scary, tbh.

Maybe you've been in these shoes or know someone who is, and feel like tossing $10 or $20 bucks my way to help make it happen, I would really really really appreciate it and WILL PASS ALONG YOUR KINDNESS. Obvi 🤗🤍

Whatever will be,I sure do hope you the best! ☺️Keep doing good with “what you’ve got” because the world needs your goodness and decency. <3