In today’s fast-paced world it’s easy to forget how blessed we are. It’s especially easy when ‘gratitude’ is just a concept and not a concrete, physical thing. This is why I always carry a few ‘Gratitude Objects’: real, physical things that remind me to pause, take a breath, and remember all I have to be grateful for.

Here are 5 simple things you can carry on your person, daily, to help remind you of the overflowing abundance all around you.

1. A Pair Of Crutches – Ever sprain your ankle? Break your Foot? Shatter your femur? Then you’re no stranger to using crutches and how grateful you feel when you can finally walk without them again. That’s the idea here. Instead of using the crutches, walk around freely, but always carry them with you. This serves as a reminder for how grateful you felt when you could finally walk around unencumbered by crutches.

2. A Feral Cat – Oftentimes gratitude eludes us, not because it’s not there, but because we’re seemingly running away from it! What better way to remind yourself of this fact than by carrying a stray cat with you that is also trying to run away? Trust me, the frustration you’ll feel from restraining a feral cat will bring an overflowing gratitude for the present moment, and also a few cute scratch marks.

3. A Loaded AR-15 & Kevlar Vest – Did you really think that gratitude was free? I hope not. Just as we must set up boundaries in our relationships, we also have to set up boundaries in order to let gratitude take up space in our lives. Sometimes we need to create that space by emptying a crowded subway car so we can have some peace and quiet to remember all we have to be grateful for. Remember, if we fail to plan, we plan to fail.

4. A Mini-Fridge Fully Stocked With Beer & Snacks – I don’t know about you but some of the most grateful times in my life have been when surrounded by friends and family, enjoying good food and good beer. So why do we not let ourselves have this experience all the time, everyday? It’s a great, convenient and fun way to make friends while at work or on your commute!

5. A Few Concrete Blocks – Like I mentioned, ‘gratitude’ is just a concept, it’s not a concrete thing you can put your hands on. That’s why carrying a few concrete blocks with you will remind you that, “Hey, I need to check-in and make my gratitude REAL.” I always have at least three on me at all times, just in case I lose one. I also LOVE these because they can easily fit in my bags and can be found at almost any construction site.

There are tons of scientific studies that point to the health benefits of consistently experiencing gratitude. These 5 ways are proven to work and are supported by REAL science. Studies show that people who report higher levels of gratitude live longer, have better relationships, bigger tits and longer, thicker penises. 

You don’t have to go crazy and do all 5 of these everyday, but I wouldn’t go more than 2 days without practicing at least 2-3 of these. I often like pairing a couple, depending on my mood. So go out there, try it, it’s easy! What do you have to lose? 

Written by Tom Bachman.