I have family responsibities since my husband has had a series of health issues....all worked hard at to overcome.
Life can change in a second...and may never go back to what it was.
Its then a type of grieving can occur.Being aware that any change could be soul destroying.
Unlike loosing a parent...I did..then loved Grandparents who were my primary carers...when grief was overwhelming.
We lost a baby..went on to have a son who joined a sister..all grief.
I have had loss of health..cope with these changes...
Loss of career...
BUT
when you have glimpsed into the next room of life..sat beside hospital beds..crept in to see if your husband is still alive and swooned that indeed he is it is easy so very easy to put yourself second.
In the past year sometimes it was 11.00am until I combed my hair..
I alway saw to medical needs first..prepared food.Really got caught up in a domestic swirling dervish.
Its not just aging people...my friend cared for her husband for 11 years...indeed at his death even lost her memory for an afternoon.We tended to her..she is rebuilding.
Women who are Boomers may have these responsibilites.

I took time in church each Sunday to ground myself...wrote each day when I had time..soon a book will finished.

But I admit to taking second or even third place in priorities.
I admire Ann who works..it gives her balance..my dear friend who was a tad older and wiser than me who is now no long here had a husband with dementia..she said " I did not invite dementia into my home.."
its been being sensitive to those around me that I have learned what is important..But time can be eaten up when someone dear and near needs care.
I am sharing this because unless you have seen something or been told then it may be hard to imagine anothers life..not in any way to elicit sympathy..
Sympathy shouts..Empathy whispers.