Dre’s Takes: The Season of Giving & Community

As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about what giving really means. It’s easy to associate this season with gifts, meals, and gatherings — but true giving runs deeper than that. It’s your time, your energy, and your presence.

Giving from the heart

Giving has always been one of my favorite love languages. I grew up in a poor neighborhood where sharing wasn’t about having extra — it was about caring. I used to share my toys, food, or clothes with my neighbors, and the joy it brought me stuck with me for life. Later, after two major moves where I started over with just one suitcase, I learned that giving doesn’t diminish what you have — it multiplies what matters.

Reflect on what and who you’re giving energy to

This time of year, I give my time to the people I care about most. I didn’t grow up with big, traditional family holidays, so now I create that energy myself — hosting friends, sharing meals, laughing late into the night. Those moments fill me up in ways gifts never could.

Emotional generosity matters

It’s always been easy for me to extend grace to others. The challenge has been learning to give that same grace to myself. This season, I’m reminding myself that emotional generosity starts within — that refilling my own cup is what allows me to pour into others.

Community isn’t about numbers

When I think about community, I think about the people who show up. The barista who knows my order, the neighbor I chat with during a walk, the friend who checks in “just because.” Giving to your community doesn’t always look like a grand gesture — sometimes it’s as simple as moving slower, noticing people, and creating space for connection.

Quiet giving counts

There’s power in small acts: a quick text, a coffee drop-by, an unexpected FaceTime. Those spontaneous, thoughtful gestures remind people they matter. Quiet giving has its own kind of magic — it’s steady, humble, and often the most impactful.

Letting go to make space

Right now, I’m packing my home for a remodel, and I’ve been letting go of things that no longer bring joy. It’s been humbling — but freeing, too. Letting go isn’t just about decluttering; it’s about creating space for what gives back, whether that’s people, energy, or peace.

End with intention

I like to think of giving as a rope that connects you to the people who matter most. There’s balance in the give and take — a rhythm to how we hold on and let go.

So as you head into Thanksgiving, remember:
Give more of what matters — to who matters, including yourself.