Love it or hate it, the holiday season is upon us. The Christmas shopping countdown has begun. Jingle-bell commercials are creeping into prime-time programming. From their perches on department store shelves, battery-operated Santa dolls are belting out “Jingle Bell Rock” over and over and over again.

Almost two decades ago, I made a decision to stop the insanity. My husband had been laid off from his job. I was earning my living as a freelance writer. Funds were tight. Sometime before Thanksgiving we informed our families we would not be participating in the commercial aspects of the holiday season that year. Here’s the kicker: It turned out to be the best decision ever. We enjoyed the season without giving way to its inherently stressful buy, buy, buy frenzy.

Fast-forward 20 years, and I’m happy to report we never completely reversed our decision to downsize. We continue to enjoy the season for what it is: a time to celebrate with friends and family. When we choose gifts for special people in our lives, we do it out of love, not obligation. We’re able to take a small step back and watch the madness with some degree of bemusement. We remember it’s not about creating the perfect holiday experience; it’s about enjoying life just the way it is.

This month, we continue our “Best of …” countdown to our 10th anniversary with a collection of photos from our Snapshot page. We also take a look at the new (and improved) world of airport hotels. Allison Voigts guides us through a business day in Busan, Korea’s second city, while Richard Newton takes adventure to new heights in Manali, India. Michael DeFreitas offers tips for enjoying a day off in Bangkok and hangs 10 in Peru. Ron Bernthal explores the business climate in Shanghai. Patricia Vanikiotis profiles Portland, Ore. Irvina Lew explores Paris with family in tow, and Gregory D. McCluney hits the town after 5 in Moscow.

Wherever your travels take you this season, remember it’s just that — a season. Airports may be more crowded. Security lines will probably be slower. Families may outnumber business travelers on tightly packed flights. Take a deep breath and relax. This, too, shall pass.