Talking to strangers has been such a pattern in my life that I once wrote a TEDx talk about it. While I’m open to meeting people any and every day of the week for some reason, the airport has been a particularly prosperous place for it. There’s something about confined spaces, overpriced goods, and being out of my comfort zone that emboldens me to talk to someone new.

One year I was in Atlanta waiting on my connection flight, tired and counting down the seconds until I could fall asleep in seat C28. However, the game of musical chairs going on next to me made it impossible to relax. One after another, people sat down and got up. Until finally, a man and his wife broke the trend by simply staying put. That’s when my fashion antennas went up.

I like his boots I thought. Or, rather much to my embarrassment, I blurted this out loud. Fortunately, he responded, “Hey, cool cup of coffee!” and proceeded to ask me where I got it. I laughed and liked his warm, childlike spirit and wit immediately. For the next half we chatted easily about everything from how Nashville, where he had lived since the 80s, had changed to the artist lofts that I just moved into. Unfortunately, our banter was disrupted when first class was called. “Well it’s been nice to meet you Lily Hansen,” he said as he stood up. “My name is…”

Gulp! Even for someone who hadn’t grown up listening to country music I recognized that I was in the presence of a legendary artist immediately. Ten shades of red became my complexion. My heart pounded as I thought, how could I be so silly to babble on about me, me, me. Until I wondered, what if I could track him down to interview him for my first book? As someone who doesn’t believe in coincidences, or clearly, see social status, I didn’t feel intimated by trying to strike up another conversation with a celebrity. Youthful arrogance is bliss…

So the next day, I emailed a few well-connected friends until I was finally introduced to his manager. One week later, I found myself in his office interviewing him for my book. Two weeks after accomplishing my goal, I was back doing an entirely different kind of project: asking him the hard questions to gather anecdotes for his memoir. At age 26 this was fairly intimidating however, I jumped at the challenge to ask him about his life. During those precious weeks, I learned what it was like to be a young musician barely making ends meet who just happened to blow up one day because of the right circumstances. (And also having talent in spades, and working hard, doesn’t hurt either.) It was both enlightening and exhilarating to be given such a rare glimpse into an extraordinary life. However, most nourishing about the experience was the informal mentor-mentee relationship that we developed during which I received boatloads of practical wisdom. During a time when I needed stability, our conversations grounded me. The wisdom he imparted, which still rings in my ears, also prevented me from making many of the mistakes that my peers did. “Life is about sharing,” he used to say, which constantly reminds me to pursue my joy and use it to connect with others. That is the secret of his success.

So, now if I ever find myself in a public space and feel myself closing off out of fear, I break down my own barriers by reminding myself how a simple hello can lead to a lifelong friendship. By placing aside any fears of rejection I not only met one of the most important mentors of my life but also became accepted into his community, which has since become somewhat of a surrogate family. I thank that country music star with the snakeskin shoes for showing me how to connect with someone wildly different from myself—and become a better person for it. Now, as a way to meet other kindred spirits, I always make sure to carry an open spirit and cup of coffee while traveling. Who knew that hot beverages could be such a great conversation-starter?