There are many times in life when you can’t quite see the way forward. You feel lost, not sure what to do, or where you’re going to end up. Most everyone has felt like that at some point. Most likely more than once. Of course, every situation is different, and everyone copes in different ways. So how do you find the way forward, when things seem so grim? Well, first and foremost, you keep trying. Often that simple act will lead you to guidance, success, or at least a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel. We have put together a group of stories and songs that talk about how to find the unseen path. From a mother attempting to guide her daughter, to a boy who is invisible, listen how they each find a way forward.

On Today’s episode, enjoy the following

“The Invisible Boy” by Stephanie Beneteau from Dreaming Tall: Stories for Growing Girls (10:29)

Many cultures around the world have their own version of the Cinderella story. Stephanie Beneteau tells us a version that comes from the Wabanaki Tribes in Eastern Canada. It all starts with the birth of an invisible baby boy. Stephanie herself has a French Canadian father, although she was born in Italy, and has spent her career teaching and telling stories.

“Purgy-Tory” by Leeny Del-Seamonds from It Takes Two to Tango: Ties That Bind Us (8:52)

Lots of people are afraid of heights. Maybe even more are afraid of spiders. What could be more scary than that? Maybe it’s the haunting question: what happens after we die? We’ve all asked that question once or twice and it’s a question worthy of consideration. While there are a lot of different ideas out there, we all have to find our own belief about what will happen. Leeny Del-Seamonds had to consider the afterlife at a young age, confronted with a few concerning ideas.

“Osprey Finds the Way” by Anne Rutherford from On the Great Pacific Flyway: Songs and Stories Celebrating Portland's Migratory Birds (4:56)

Finding the way forward is hard. Sometimes there are many obstacles and challenges that stand in our path. One thing that can be hard to accept, but is so important, is that we can ask for help. Anne Rutherford, a storyteller out of the Pacific northwest, knows this to be true. She began performing on stage at the age of 7, and she definitely has a knack for it. In this story she recounts a tale about Osprey, a bird who wanted to find better living conditions for her fellow fowl. The way forward is hard, but Osprey has some pretty powerful help on her side.

“Whippoorwill” by Kim Weitkamp from Penny Candy Love (3:20)

Kim Weitkamp believes that every person is a story and that every story can make a difference. In this next song, she notes the inevitably of time passing. There is an end to every story, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t learn how to fly in our story. As we push forward we should do everything we can to enjoy the journey. Yes things are often difficult in life, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it!

“My Little Accessory” by Robin Schulte from Jack and the Levitator (16:10)

Robin Schulte is a storyteller by profession, but she is also a mom. Everyone who has been a parent knows that sometimes your kids don’t live life exactly how you might have imagined when they were born. That can be hard to accept, but it doesn’t mean that they’ve failed as a parent, or that their kid is making poor decisions. Sometimes kids just have to find their own path. Robin’s own daughter definitely lived life in the direction she wanted. Robin tells about how she learned to accept that her daughter is her own person and love her all the same in “My Little Accessory”.

"Bow Wow Wow" by Bill Harley from Blah Blah Blah (7:27)

In this song from Bill Harley, a young boy em"bark"s on a quest to find his lost dog, only to encounter a weird scene involving a pack of partying dogs.