my 2-second interaction with a celebrity this week

Earlier this week, I overheard a celebrity hitting on a girl. And it made me jealous...

But probably not for the reason you're thinking.

Monday, I was at the coffee shop working, when I looked up and noticed a familiar face walking in the door.

"Who IS that?" I thought.

I knew that I knew who it was... but I didn't know who it was.

Know what I mean?

Then it hit me.

"I think that's [FAMOUS COMEDIAN]."

This guy isn't "Kevin Hart famous," but he's got a huge niche following. The people who love him really love him.

I pulled up his Instagram, confirmed with 95% certainty that he was who I thought he was, then texted a couple friends who were fans of his.

He ordered some breakfast, pulled out his laptop, and then walked to the counter looking for WiFi details.

We made eye contact.

"WiFi?" he asked.

"I think it's just [NAME OF THE COFFEE SHOP]," I said.

"Yeah, I'm on the guest network and I didn't need a password," a girl chimed in.

"Yeah I think it's just one of those 'click a button' things," I said.

"Alright cool," he said.

I spent the next hour thinking of cooler ways that I could have told him how to get on the WiFi.

And I thought that was the end of it.

But the next morning, he came in again, ordered breakfast, worked for a minute, then left.

On his way out, he stopped to talk to the barista. And because I am painfully nosy, I paused my music and listened.

"I heard your podcast," she said, smiling.

"Oh yeah? I hope it didn't make you uncomfortable," he said.

"Oh no, I thought it was funny! My friend sent it to me and said 'is this about you?'"

He said something that I either didn't hear or have forgotten. Then she said:

"Yeah my friend was like 'give my boy, [FAMOUS COMEDIAN], a chance!'"

They joked a little bit more, and then she said something like:

"I just wanted to give you a hard time -- make you a little uncomfortable."

"It's not hard to do!" he said. Then, "Y'all have a good a day!" as he walked out the door.

Overall, both of these interactions were incredibly normal. He didn't pull up in a Rolls Royce and then take the girl to his private jet.

He drove a normal truck, ate a normal breakfast, and walked out of the coffee shop alone.

But the whole thing had an impact on me.

This comedian and the barista didn't have much in the way of a "proper" relationship...

But because he has a podcast (i.e. because he shares his thoughts and feelings publicly on a regular basis)...

It was like she already knew him.

They could joke together, laugh together, have a fun interaction from what could have otherwise been a very awkward situation.

A lot of people dream about being celebrities... authors... musicians... whatever.

But no matter the "medium" you use to get famous -- whether it's a book, an album, or a podcast...

I think what most of us really want isn't to be a celebrity at all...

It's to be understood.

To be seen, known, loved, and appreciated for exactly who we are.

And that's what captivated me about the interaction between this comedian and the barista.

She didn't know him, but she did.

I recognize there are issues that come with sharing your life publicly. And I'm not here to romanticize being a celebrity. I'm sure it sucks sometimes.

But I do think there's something beautiful about walking into a coffee shop and being fully known and understood by people you don't even know.

So yeah... maybe I'm a little jealous.

Robert