Sunday Best: This is the show

A lesson in living well.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story October 18, 2020 This week a friend said something simple in passing that stayed with me: “Life planning is tough during a pandemic.” Boy, did that hit home. My partner and I had been making plans to buy a house in the country, and the pandemic has, as my astute friend noted, made planning something as life-changing as an urban-to-rural relocation daunting. The idea of moving away from loved ones while a deadly virus threatens us all is scary. I know there’s a lot of fear circulating out there, which is why this week I want to share a beautiful piece from my colleague Charles Blow. It’s about the life lessons that were recently brought to the fore when his brother Frederick Edward Blow died. The lesson that most touched my heart is about living life fully, regardless of fear: “Stop living this life like it’s a dress rehearsal,” Charles writes. “This is the show! There is only one performance. You don’t have time for fear and hesitation. Pursue your dreams.” He urges us all to stop procrastinating and go after what we want, because who really knows how much time we have left. — Shannon Busta Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Megan Thee Stallion: Why I Speak Up for Black Women   The New York Times “It’s ridiculous that some people think the simple phrase ‘Protect Black women’ is controversial. We deserve to be protected as human beings. And we are entitled to our anger about a laundry list of mistreatment and neglect that we suffer.” Kids Have Suffered Enough. Let Them Have Halloween. Getty Images This Halloween might not feel quite like those of the past, but trick-or-treating could actually be an ideal activity for a pandemic. There are smart ways to lower the risks. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT In My Mountain Town, We’re Preparing for the Dark Times The turn from summer to fall always mixes beauty with melancholyIan Allen for The New York Times “In an era of contagion, though, closeness is treacherous. We are told to stay out of each other’s homes. We are advised to avoid gatherings. What makes us human — the need for connection, for human touch — is now suspect.” Hello Again, Cicadas. A Lot Has Happened Since 2003. The New York Times Imagine literally living under a rock — for 17 years. That’s a reality for the cohort of cicadas emerging this year known as Brood IX. Things have changed a lot since 2003, and there’s a lesson or two to be learned about our current troubles from these underground dwellers. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Jacob Blake Is My Nephew. My Family Is Suffering. Jacob Blake Sr. with the family of Breonna Taylor last month.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images “When the cameras stop rolling, the lights fade and public attention turns away, we’re left with our pain and we return to the battle against racism and for justice and reform.” Read the full Opinion report here. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Sunday Best from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018