Finding My Voice: A Story of Patience, Strain, and Simple Solutions

Ravi had spent years crafting stories, not just with words, but with his voice. His voice was his tool, his art. It was how he brought characters to life, how he made stories feel personal to listeners. He had narrated over 25 audiobooks, and his days used to be easy—sit down in front of the mic, read a book, done in a day or two.

But lately, something had changed.

What used to flow effortlessly now felt strained. His voice, once rich and strong, had begun to crack. He couldn’t finish a recording session without feeling like he had run a marathon. What was once joy had turned into a slow, grueling process that left him questioning if he could continue at all.

Weeks went by, and Ravi tried everything. Tea, rest, silence. Nothing worked. Recording a single chapter felt like climbing a mountain. And the frustration… well, that was unbearable. His voice was his livelihood, and it was slipping away.

That’s when he found a small miracle — Gether’s pastilles. They weren’t cheap, but the moment he tried them, he felt relief. A smooth, calming sensation replaced the strain in his throat. It was as though his vocal cords were being gently cradled back to health. For the first time in weeks, he could record without wincing.

But the pastilles weren’t a cure-all. The issue was deeper. So, Ravi sought out a voice coach, someone who could help him retrain how he used his voice. He learned about proper breathing techniques and how tiny adjustments in his posture could change everything.

Still, his voice wasn’t where it needed to be.

He visited an ENT specialist who scoped his vocal cords and offered one important piece of advice: avoid steroids unless absolutely necessary. Ravi had been willing to try anything, but he knew that quick fixes often came with long-term problems.

And then, someone suggested something Ravi had never even considered — his posture. Apparently, how he sat and stood affected his voice in ways he never realized. He found a coach trained in the Alexander Technique, a method that focuses on efficient body use, and it was transformative. He learned how his entire body supported his voice, and by making a few simple changes, the strain started to ease.

But the biggest breakthrough came from something so simple, it seemed almost silly: blowing bubbles. Yes, bubbles. Ravi learned about semi-occluded vocal tract exercises — techniques where you blow bubbles into a glass of water while humming. It sounded ridiculous at first, but when he tried it, the tension melted away. His voice started to feel free again, like it used to.

The process was slow, but Ravi started to recover. He realized that taking care of his voice wasn’t just about pushing through, but about finding joy in the little things — like blowing bubbles into a glass of water.

And through it all, Ravi learned that sometimes the simplest solutions, no matter how odd, can make the biggest difference. His voice came back, stronger than ever, and he continued to share his stories, knowing now that his greatest tool needed care, patience, and a little playfulness to thrive.