Amal Clooney and her husband, George, know how to do work conferences right! The Power Couple is in New York this week attending the UN General Assembly on behalf of the Clooney Foundation for Justice.
As part of their duties they attended a breakout session where they were seated at a roundtable one seat away from President Obama. NBD. Just another work conference.
Just another day at the grindstone for the Clooneys. Check e-mail, try to get the copier unjammed, make small talk about last night's episode of Scream Queens, attend a roundtable moderated by the President of the United States, check Facebook a few times too many, accidentally reply-all with a Beyoncé gif that was only meant for the work spouse. The usual.
I can't get over this.
I don't know about you but every work conference I've ever been to has involved sharing a room at the Courtyard by Marriott with Jaleel from Accounting who, honestly, I really don't know but shares my excitement about the make-your-own-waffle bar. So, he's fine in my book. In any case, there are rarely famous people at the work conferences I go to. Usually the most famous person at the conference is an inspirational speaker I follow on Instagram or, like, a really dynamic local magician. Rarely is it the President.
Not so for Clooney, an international human rights lawyer, and her husband. Out here hobnobbing with world leaders, dressed to the nines. I'll bet they don't even have time to go to the waffle bar at their Courtyard by Marriott.
But whatever. Important people importanting is not why I've gathered you here today.
What we really need to talk about is important people cute-ing.
Look at these two!
Not only are they at an important work conference, changing the world and probably showing off some bomb Powerpoint skills, but they are holding hands while they do it. In front of the President! I can't!
This is ultimate work goals: a seat at the President's table, a little skinny microphone (you know you've made it when you don't have to pass a handheld mic back and forth like an audience member on Sally Jesse Raphael), a little placard with your name on it and someone to hold hands with.
I'm obsessed.
I honestly forgot that Amal and George Clooney were a thing. I don't know how. I used to think about them all the time. That's totally a normal thing. I wasn't thinking about them in a weird way. It was more "Oh, hey, Amal Clooney is married to Sandra Bullock's co-star from Gravity. I love that!" Just a normal thought that pops into one's head.
Like how you sometimes you say to yourself "Oh, hey, remember that time Liza Minelli accosted Lupita N'yongo with a hug when Lupita won her Oscar. Hilarious."
Or sometimes you say "Oh, hey, I wonder what Amy Yasbeck is up to." (FYI, I checked on her Facebook page. She's doing great, y'all.)
Anyway, these are all normal things to spend two to 24 hours a day thinking about but none is more important than remembering that Amal and George Clooney are married.
A couple this smart, powerful and beautiful should float into your mind pretty much constantly. Like a pop-up ad made of joy.
Set a reminder on your phone if you need to. "Meditate on the Clooneys. Also send some energy to the Knowles-Carters. And ruminate on Kyra Sedgewick and Kevin Bacon for 20 seconds." I'm practicing Celebrity Contemplation these days. It's really changed my life. I feel much less concerned with my life and my problems and much more focused on things that matter, like imagining what the Beckhams are eating for lunch. I'm available to give motivational speeches on it at any and all conferences held at Courtyard by Marriotts. I accept payment in the form of waffles.
And love!
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R. Eric Thomas is a columnist for ELLE.com, where he skewers politics, pop culture, celebrity shade, and schadenfreude. He is also the author of Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America, a memoir-in-essays.
