• EP18 – Living Awareness: Letting Life Move
    Oct 7 2026
    This episode of Living Awareness with Sara explores the quiet exhaustion that comes from trying to control every detail of life—our plans, emotions, and even how we think we should be. Through Zen wisdom, personal reflection, and simple everyday moments, it reveals how much of our fatigue comes not from life itself, but from resisting its natural flow. Instead of offering more control, it invites a gentler approach: noticing where we are holding too tightly and experimenting with small moments of loosening. The core message is that when we soften our grip, even slightly, we don’t lose life—we begin to meet it with more presence, ease, and energy.

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    9 Min.
  • EP17 – Living Awareness: When Emotions Take Over (Again)
    Sep 30 2026
    In this episode of Curly Boat, we explore the strange moment when we think we’ve become calmer and more aware… only to find ourselves reacting all over again. Through a Zen story, a personal experience from one of my painting classes, and reflections on emotional storms, we look at why old feelings return, why awareness sometimes comes late, and how that doesn’t mean failure. Maybe awareness isn’t about never losing balance—but about learning to return, softly, each time the waves rise.

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    10 Min.
  • EP16 – Living Awareness: When Presence Feels Boring
    Sep 23 2026
    In this episode of Curly Boat, Sara tackles the often-overlooked reality that being present isn’t always peaceful or satisfying—sometimes, it’s just plain boring. While we’re told mindfulness should bring calm and fulfillment, the truth is, sitting in quiet can leave us restless, itching for any distraction. Sarah shares her own experience with meditation retreats and how, even in stillness, the mind keeps reaching for stimulation. She dives into Zen teachings that highlight the uncomfortable emptiness lurking beneath our busy minds, and she explains why our brains crave distraction when faced with simplicity. Rather than seeing boredom or restlessness as failures, she suggests they’re actually signs you’re beginning the real work of awareness. Her advice: when you feel restless, stay a moment longer, get curious about it, and realize the discomfort is part of the process—sometimes, the magic of presence is hidden in those moments that feel empty or dull.

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    10 Min.
  • EP15 – Living Awareness: Slowing Down Without Escaping
    Sep 16 2026
    In a world where we are constantly urged to slow down and be present, Sara from Curly Boat invites us to examine the fine line between genuine mindfulness and subtle avoidance. Through her exploration, she illustrates that slowing down can feel like coming home when it fosters true connection with ourselves, akin to flowing effortlessly in a bakery’s rhythm. However, it can also mask deeper issues, such as emotional inertia, where one might linger in comfort while avoiding necessary confrontations. Drawing on Zen teachings, Sarah warns against clinging even to feelings of peace, suggesting that true clarity comes from honest awareness of our motivations. Ultimately, she encourages us to discern whether our pauses are intentional or a drift into avoidance, emphasizing that the journey is not about speed but about the authenticity of our choices.

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    10 Min.
  • EP14 – Living Awareness: Daily Life
    Sep 9 2026

    Everyday life often feels mundane, yet it holds the potential for profound awareness if we learn to embrace the present moment rather than constantly chase after future significance. In the latest episode of Curly Boat, Sara invites listeners to explore the Zen concept that “everyday mind is the Way,” emphasizing that true spirituality isn’t found in distant, extraordinary experiences but right here in our daily routines. Through reflections on her time working in a bakery, she illustrates how repetitive tasks can reveal the beauty of the ordinary when approached with mindfulness, challenging the notion that simplicity is less valuable than complexity. The episode encourages embracing the notion of ‘suchness’—accepting things as they are—and invites us to pause and recognize that life’s richness often lies in unnoticed details. Ultimately, it poses a gentle invitation to consider whether our lives could feel sufficient just as they are, urging us to cultivate awareness in the small moments that often go overlooked.


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    9 Min.
  • EP13 – Living Awareness: Return
    Sep 2 2026
    In the opening of Season Two of Curly Boat, Sara invites listeners to explore the theme of ‘Return,’ suggesting that true transformation lies not in dramatic changes, but in the subtle rediscovery of the familiar. She shares a Zen story about a monk and a bowl, illustrating how even the most mundane tasks can lead to profound awareness when approached with presence. Through her own experience of returning to a baking routine after COVID, Sara highlights how ordinary actions, imbued with intention, can nourish not just the body but the spirit. She encourages listeners to transform their daily routines into rituals, emphasizing that the extraordinary can emerge from the ordinary when met with fresh attention. As she wraps up, Sara reflects on the power of small acts. She invites everyone to embrace the quiet yet significant magic of presence in daily life, encouraging listeners to wash their own metaphorical bowls and find joy in the simple moments.

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    9 Min.
  • EP12 – Inner Awareness: Making Decisions in Moments of Overwhelm
    Jul 1 2026

    This episode explores why decision-making can feel overwhelming when there are too many options and too much pressure. Instead of forcing clarity, Sara guides listeners to recognize overwhelm, simplify their choices, pause to reset, and take small, trusting steps forward. Through simple examples and stories, the episode shows that clarity comes not from doing more—but from doing less, more intentionally.


    Core Message

    Overwhelm isn’t a sign that you can’t decide—it’s a sign you have too much on your mind. By simplifying, pausing, and trusting small steps, you can move forward with clarity and confidence.


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    7 Min.
  • EP11 – Inner Awareness: Understanding Your Beliefs
    Jun 24 2026

    This Curly Boat episode explores how our beliefs are shaped by childhood, peer influence, and everyday habits. Host Sarah encourages listeners to examine inherited ideas, recognize crowd effects, and update outdated routines. With relatable stories and practical tips, she shows how curiosity and small experiments can help you choose beliefs that truly fit, rather than just accepting what you've been handed. Stay tuned for tackling decision overwhelm next time.


    The core message is

    Your beliefs aren’t necessarily yours—they’re shaped by what you’ve seen, heard, and repeated over time. But with awareness and curiosity, you can question them, update them, and choose ones that truly fit who you are now.

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    11 Min.