The Gratified Mindset

Jenna Hamra via PexelsI’ve admired the work of writer and educator Ian Bogost (perhaps currently best known as a contributor to The Atlantic) for years. We share an interest in objects, and I cited some of his thinking about everyday games in The Art of Noticing book, among other connections. So I was excited to hear from him about his newest book, The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life. Described as being all about “existing deliberately and with attention to regain our human-ness,” it certainly sounded TAoN relevant! And indeed it is. “Think of gratification as something the world gives and that you accept.” In the book, Ian spotlights and explores the specific idea of gratification. This differs from happiness (“big-picture contentment”) and satisfaction (“pride in accomplishment”). In his words:“Gratification is the sensory enchantment of everyday life.”I love the sound of that! So I asked Ian if he could offer a prompt to share with TAoN readers to get us in the…