Take the time to love the details | OPINION

Not that it particularly mattered, and yet, it mattered a lot.

In a generic photo sent through accompanying a possible story from a company, a farming family was shown with their dog.

Only the name of the father was provided for the caption.

The easy option would have been to write something about the father "and his family", but there was an extra element; a pup.

This scribe has been in the rural journalism business long enough to know certain things frustrate readers.

Not having the name of the dog in a photograph is one of those things.

Many, many letters, calls and correspondence to various rural newspapers over the years, complaining about an unnamed dog in a photograph have reinforced this fact.

So an inquiry was made, the name of the dog (along with the names of the other family members no less) was obtained, and a more informative caption written.

The farmer himself expressed his appreciation at being asked for the dog's name, having been published previously (in a different magazine) with an incorrect name.

The point? Details matter. Yes it took time (but not much) to find out, but it mattered.

At this time of year when the world is swirling with giddy consumerism, overt attempts at joy and more colour on display than a television test pattern, it's easy for details, for small things, important things, to get missed.

Small things like remembering to touch base with the rellies to wish them a happy Christmas.

Small things like replying to the text message from that lonely, needy, friend.

Small things like giving change, or more, to charities that help the desperate during these months of plenty and excess.

Small things like listening to the stories from the last week of school and how many desks were cleaned and where Mrs Richardson is having her holidays.

Small things like taking the time to look at, really look at, the poorly coloured and barely held-together paper ornament the young'un has made to hang on the tree.

Small things like allowing that car to access the line of traffic in front or take that last park.

Small things like putting the phone away (or switched off totally) to enjoy the carols service, the cringey Christmas movie, the neighbourhood get-together, the packing shed crew barbecue, the backyard concert, the church service or the singalong.

In an industry like agriculture where so much push is on doing things better, faster, greener, more sustainably, cleaner and at less cost, the ability to slow down takes a concerted effort.

Find those moments though; seek them out, find the time, extract the present, be in the now.

Remember the name of your neighbour's dog and if you don't know it, ask what it is. Make a connection.

Learn to love the details.

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