There are many things in life that just suck—the flu, flat tires, overdraft fees, vacuums. There are other things in life that suck, well, the life out of you—screaming babies, tax season, family reunions…vampires. Then there are those things in life that simply suck you in. Without any control of your own, they just sweep you into their powerful cone of fascination and frenzy. They are the tornadoes of life. The vortex of experience.

This past weekend was a grand example of the vortex. A conference for the local chapter of the American Advertising Federation found the K-girls in St. Petersburg, FL. It began with a literal windstorm that blew doors shut, hair out of control and contents out of purses. And as if that was Mother Nature’s clever wink of foreshadowing, the rest of the weekend was nothing less than a whirlwind of early morning breakfasts, board meetings, 1001 pictures, costume changes, keynote speakers, breakout sessions, awards ceremonies, after parties, unopenable bar “gifts”, bed confetti, hilarious car rides and an unexpected series of credit card losses. I’m surprised I was able to get out of bed this morning.

But what an amazingly memorable experience.

There will be those things in life that you can’t help but give into. They will pull you in even if you never ever planned on it. You usually don’t. It will be that independent film that you stumbled into during the Film Festival. Or that lightning storm above the horizon of our eastern coastline. It will be the final game for your favorite team on the brink of a championship. Or the look in your newborn’s eyes. It very well could be that one concert that completely envelopes you with the lights and sound, the people around you, the movement of your body and that breathtaking feeling where you know this moment has changed your life.

Things like that which suck you in are always worth it, and when it happens, let it. Because when you finally come out, it’s so moving, that for even just a moment, it feels like the world stands still.