Animal Crossing

tags: [ games , japan , _mindfulness ]

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It could serve us well to recognize the power of particular games to calm our nerves, to inspire gratitude for nature and relaxation, and to encourage us to engage in some healthy nostalgia.

• I have been somewhat baffled by the recent infatuation with Animal Crossing, as on the surface, it’s like a japanese take on the Sims, or Stardew Valley (which itself went viral, and I tried playing it, and didn’t really get).
• there was an article a while back about how it’s basically a form of escapism, and so at a time like now, it allows people to exist in a parallel universe with no stress.
• what this quote makes me think, is that this is more of a meditative experience, and about cultivating some form of #mindfulness
  • when you listen to Sam Harris talk about mindfulness, and how things change when you achieve the correct mental state11 A similar state, mind you, garnered from consuming LSD., you become one with everything, and notice the little things, the blades of grass, and everything feels magical again. especially nature.
  • I wonder if there’s something of that here.