In the shower, I have a tendency to hunch my neck down—possibly because of the height of the showerhead, maybe the psychological effect of having something pummel down on me from above, or perhaps just because I'm consistently groggy and out-of-it when I'm taking a hot shower.

To be more mindful, I'm trying to notice this, and breathe in to a taller posture. Since the main goal of my morning shower is to make me realize that I exist in a world, not a dream planet, and I have to walk around in it, it's important for me to not just crawl out of the shower like a slug. I need to face that cold world!

It kind of works. Invariably once I've done it, I find myself hunched over again a minute later and have to try again: breathe in to the back of the neck, left the breath lift my chest, my spine, my head. Open eyes. Look.

When I face the day, and the shower, with a strong back after breathing in only once, I'll feel quite good.