In analyzing my teenage ‘tell your story' soundtrack, I observed a thing or two about myself. Not so much the need for story edits, but definitely some insights, clues as to what I might want to think about as I write my story into the future.

But more on that later.

As you scan this playlist, you'll see that, as a teenager, daring to dream for me was largely about becoming a cheerleader and finding true love. Piano and grades had become inconsequential, and angst was now on the scene: so much of living gets compressed into those four years.

Which songs best tell the story of your teenage years? What do your song choices say about your emerging and shifting priorities as you moved out of childhood?

SOUNDTRACK STORY: High School

Nature Boy — Nat King Cole's music bound me to my grandparents (first heard his music at my grandparents' home) and parents (my mom heard him live in San Francisco before he died), even as I began to individuate. I think this song put to music some of the sadness of those years — thrilled to be growing up. And not.

Still the One — In 8th grade, I went to see the Castillero Jr. High songgirls perform. After watching these pretty, and seemingly popular, girls perform to this song, I knew I wanted to be just like them.

Play That Funky Music — At the first school dance I remember attending, the DJ played this song, and I reveled in the abandon. (I don't know about you, but I am intrigued by the fact that at every age there have been songs that remind me just how much I longed to imagine and explore.)

Always and Forever — Being in love, and having my heart broken, for the first time. Ironic that I chose a tune which referred to ‘always' and ‘forever'.

Can't Hide Love — Though the song makes me so, so happy today, as a 16 year-old, ‘Can't Hide Love' always made me think of two boys (they don't know it of course) to whom I had given my heart.

Related posts:
Tell Your Soundtrack Story: Of Childhood and Christmas
Tell Your Soundtrack Story: Pre-Teen – Stevie Wonder On the Scene
What I've Learned by Identifying My Heroes
Imagine and Explore
Getting Gratitude

Definitely, definitely consider creating a musical mix for your children, grandchildren.

As I pull together these songs, limiting myself to only five songs (constraints can be a good thing), I am not only sharing the highlights of my soundtrack story, I am finding that I'm re-writing certain portions — edits can be a very good thing.

But more on that later.

Without further ado, here is Part II, memorable songs from my pre-teen years:

SOUNDTRACK STORY: Pre-Teen Years

I Woke Up in Love This Morning — My crush on David Cassidy was so HUGE. I still have a picture of myself standing by a poster of him in my bedroom. And, as I've shared previously, it was remarkable to me that Shirley Jones could be an ingenue AND a mother.

I Am Woman — We would listen to Helen Reddy on an 8-track player as my mom would taxi me to ice skating. I LOVED taking ice skating lessons; gliding over the ice I felt such my sense of self surge. In hindsight, I'm laughing that I liked this song so much; my desire to affirm ‘us girls' seems to have started at the tender age of 10-11.

Come, Come Ye Saints — Singing this hymn always moved me, an homage to both my spiritual heritage and family roots, especially of my pioneer ancestors that settled southern Arizona.

Don't you Worry ‘Bout a Thing — My lifetime love affair with all things Spanish/Latin America began at an early age, with my birth actually: my children even think that we are part Spanish. But not sure why I have such a love for the music of Stevie Wonder. Perhaps because his lyrics give utterance to my deepest feelings/longings in a way that few musicians can and do.

Ease on Down the Road — Another happy, carefree song, that encourages me to imagine and explore, to face my fear.

Related posts:

Tell Your Soundtrack Story: Of Childhood and Christmas
What I've Learned By Identifying My Heroes
Finding our Reality in Reality TV
Asking and Answering the Big Questions
Rock Climbing and Rethinking Our Competence