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What Gets Us Off Track?

On a sunny day a few years ago, my husband, Greg, and I were wandering the streets of the Gold Souk in the old part of Dubai. Both my sister, who was living in Dubai with her family, and my travel guide had described the souk—a marketplace where you can buy products ranging from fresh food and spices to handicrafts and even gold—as a “must-see.” Our plan for the afternoon was clear: Greg and I wanted to have an enjoyable day and buy something authentic that would help us remember the experience vividly once we were back home.

As we went from one tiny, packed store to the next, we noticed that amid the traditional shops ...

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