It’s the first day of December 2024 as I write this. And just like that, It’s the last month of the year. And with it comes a feeling of “wrapping things up,” literally and figuratively. Those in a holiday mood are busy crossing out things from their lists. Usually, this involves buying stuff to give away as gifts, or if one feels inclined to reward oneself for a year-round job well done, giving a present to oneself to keep the wonder going as a form of pampering and self-love. I see myself giving myself a new electric guitar because I’ve been so loyal to my old guitars that they deserve the company of a new six-string. But do I need a new one when I already have enough of them? Well, that’s debatable. 

But what I’m trying to get at is the part about pampering and self-love. Sure, running to the nearest mall to buy stuff is fine. But do yourself a favor and up the ante this time. Instead of just filling a want or the proverbial hole in your life with an item you’re considering getting only because it's on sale, stop. Instead, get what you need. Something that’ll last a little longer. Buy wonder. 

Yes, that’s right. Wonder. That “feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.” Buy a watercolor set because you’ve always had a knack for visuals. Get a nice notebook and a matching pen to write the thoughts and emotions you want off your mind and chest. Maybe it’ll come out as poetry, or maybe lyrics. In the same vein, perhaps a musical instrument, because you’ve always felt you have a knack for melodies, and maybe that’ll lead you to your first ever song.

Whatever interests you: baking, carpentry, dog grooming, sewing, hair-cutting, etc. Get what you need to get yourself on that path of creating because gifts are great. But the best presents leave a sense of awe, admiration, fascination, and amazement. And in the scheme of things, only you can provide yourself with what you really need to lift yourself.      

And because Yule season is in full bloom, here are some season-inspired tunes. Starting with Ed Sheeran with a lovely sounding, piano-decked “Under The Tree,” wherein he croons, “There is nothing under the tree that I wished for / I want you to come back to me and be like before.” Ed Sheeran is established in his career in singing yule tunes with orchestrations. The next stop is an all-covers album of Christmas Carols. Just kidding.     

One of my all-time fave bands, The Dawn, surprisingly pops up for the season with a holiday-themed original in “Maki-Pasko.”  Jett Pangan’s voice, which has mellowed to a rich timbre, sings of de rigueur themes of Christmas, the gist being, can I celebrate the holiday with you? The music would pass for a mellow, atmospheric ‘new wave-inspired’ tune. On-brand for this band who’s seen music fads come and go but has remained true to its core. I know it will be on my playlist. 

LISA brings some holiday vibes into the dancefloor with  “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me)” Santa Baby Remix. It's a vibing track to get you “trippin’” as LISA does with Santa. Does that make sense? I don’t know, but she does manage to interpolate “Kiss Me” into this funky rework. And yes, I think LISA is today's hottest solo female K-pop act.