My friend Dawn Grabowski is a sit-down comedian. She calls herself that because in her words, "I'm not qualified to stand." So she does her act from a wheelchair. Dawn is also an actress and a writer and has several projects that are up for nomination. She also seldom misses a social event.
As voting members of the Television Academy, we get invited to a few dozen pre-Emmy events where you watch a screening of the show, hear about the backstory, and attend a reception, where you can talk (and pose for selfies) with the actors and production team members. These are special evenings, and my wife and I go as often we can, which is about half the time. Dawn goes to all of them because she wants to be an informed Emmy voter and have fun.
The other night, my wife and I stayed in after three late nights in a row, but Dawn was at the latest screening. Her desire to have a full and good life is very strong, and I truly envy her determination.
At times like this, I feel a little wimpy by comparison. I have plenty of good excuses, like we don't live in Hollywood and it's a two-hour drive to get there, or I have the sniffles and my body is tired from the last several late nights. I do miss not being there, but you can't do it all.
I have learned to listen to my body because when I ignore the warning signs I can get sick. Could I make it through tonight? Sure, but I'd probably have a bad cold for a week afterward and miss many more opportunities.
That being said, I'm pretty good at making excuses when not feeling 100 percent. I usually work and do things at the house, but sometimes it's hard to get me out when I just have a tickle in my throat (which probably came from talking too much).
So I have to admire Dawn. I'm not saying that we should all push ourselves if we are not feeling up to it, but couldn't Dawn say that to herself every day? Instead, she is a working actress and parties with the rest of them. And when I compare myself to Dawn, it does kind of make me feel like I need to rally.
We all have to find our balance somehow. That event was aired on Facebook live, and my wife and I did attend virtually, so we could go to something else the next day in person. Dawn will be there, chatting with friends and enjoying her life. Oh, and did I mention she is a hoot? A very funny and uplifting person whenever I see her.
I believe that the energy in the room gives her strength, and like most of us, she wants to be part of something larger than herself, not to mention having an amazing evening that not many people get to experience. Despite a disability that limits her mobility, she really gets around. Inspiration is a wonderful thing.
You can find out more about Dawn and her work at www.DawnGrabowski.com or follow her on Twitter @DawnGabrowski.
