Recording My Audiobook is Showing My Growth
This week, I am recording an audiobook of my memoir—a goal I’ve had for over a year.
Meet Bradley (check out his work www.instagram.com/caughtbywest)
A couple of months ago, I met a guy named Bradley. He’s a photographer, videographer, and quasi-jack-of-all-trades in creating, recording, and mixing.
Originally, I had hired him to take some photographs for my website. Over time, we became friends (Sayulita is small, and we ran into each other everywhere).
One night, he came to my apartment for some wine and games. The game was called “The Confessions Game”—a deck of intimate prompts designed to spark self-disclosure and ignite connections based on something more meaningful than, “where are you from, and what do you do for a living?”
As the night went on, I shared with him my dream of making my memoir into an audiobook, but that I didn’t know how to make it happen now that I was living in Mexico.
“I bet there are recording studios in Puerto Vallarta, and I do a lot of editing and audio mixing, let’s make this happen!”
His earnestness was evident. I nodded, and said, “ok, I would actually love the help, so if you’re serious, let’s make a plan.”
The next day, we were reaching out to studios. Bradley was sending me research he’d done on how much time we’d need, and tips for me to prepare as the narrator.
On Monday, June 6, we got in a taxi and headed to Puerto Vallarta. We’d booked a studio and AirBnb for a week, and were as ready as we could be to embark on a project that neither of us had ever done, but one that sparked our creative juices and promised us an adventure of learning, play, and fulfillment.
We have encountered many obstacles already.
Reading aloud for hours on end is exhausting, and my voice is already almost completely gone after only one day of recording.
While the studio is soundproof, it’s not COMPLETELY soundproof, and there is a school right behind the building that hosts daily drum classes, which sends the neighboring dogs into a barking fit for hours.
Yesterday, on our second day of recording, we were unable to record ANY chapters due to noise outside the studio.
Years ago, this would have sent me into a panic.
"We're on a deadline!" "I'm paying for this by the hour!" "We're gonna run out of time!"
Yesterday, though, I looked to Bradley and said,
"My intention today was to not let small things get to me. And my prayer to the universe was that we find ease. So it seems like this is a time when the path of least effort is to leave the studio, find some joy, rest, and come back tomorrow.”
We lost 8 hours of recording, which is a bummer, yes.
(If you struggle to let yourself feel your emotions, I have a workbook to help you navigate emotion regulation!)
I let myself feel and express the disappointment.
I knew that if I attached stories, what-ifs, or negative beliefs onto the disappointment, that I would send my body into an unnecessary stress response, which would interfere with the days of recording to come.
Because stress, as I’ve learned, sends the body into a state of hypervigilence, which interferes with our brain’s ability to stay present and focused as the mind is in a constant state of looking out for danger.
Stress leads us to prioritize survival (enter fight/flight/freeze/fawn), and we struggle to digest, regulate, or rest.
Stress hormones pump through the body, which can create inflammation in the body and mind, and further reduce the ability to feel focused and clear.
All of the above would interfere with the recording in days to come, as I’d likely struggle to remain present and focused, may feel physically unwell, or emotionally unprepared to read the stories of my life that are in my book.
So, instead of attaching stories (this always happens to me) or what-ifs (what if this happens every day and I can’t finish?), I felt disappointed for what was, and moved forward.
“Let’s go find some joy, shall we?”
We found a delightful lunch spot and shared conversation and laughter. We watched the sunset from the roof of our Airbnb and played "would you rather" like giddy kids.
At one point, we realized how we both longed for more play in our lives (we are both former actors) and spontaneously created a theater club in Sayulita, where we both live.
Instead of spending the day stressed and in dread of what might be tomorrow, we stayed present, played, and decompressed.
And as a result, new creations were born and our friendship was strengthened.
This is what life is about for me. For now.
Prioritizing rest. Prioritizing connection. Trusting that if I chose the path of least effort, I allow the seeds I've planted to grow, and plant new ones in the waiting.
And now, here we are, rested and ready to record again.
More obstacles will arise—and, we will meet them with as much presence, compassion, and hope as we can. For as both of us said before this project began:
“I’m just happy I have the opportunity to do this work at all.”
XX
Rachel
**Since publishing this blog post, my audiobook has been released! Listen now using this link or the button below.