Masterton author looking to define What Matters

Christine Hunt Daniell believes that everyone has an interesting story to tell, no matter how much they may protest.

This belief has led her down the road of exploring oral histories with several of her earlier books. In Just an Orange for Christmas and Something in the Hills, she spent years pulling together the stories of Wairarapa locals to create the shapes of individuals.

With her new book, What Matters, Daniell has taken a different approach.

What Matters consists of quotes from people of all ages and backgrounds (though mainly Kiwis) answering the question, “What matters?”

She was initially interested by the idea that we only stop to consider what matters to us after the death of a loved one or another traumatic event. Daniell wanted to challenge that and get others to answer the question under ordinary circumstances.

The full idea of the book came to her one day as she was taking a walk along the beach in White Rock. She says that in that moment, the full concept of the book became clear to her, from the front cover to how she wanted it to be organised.

Over the course of the next 12 or 15 years, Daniell started compiling the answers that would make up her book.

Generally, asking this question was pretty straight forward. Daniell says she would take the opportunity to ask just about everyone she met. She would write down their answer, as well as their age and (if applicable) occupation.

She tried to find a way to go to a prison so that she could bring a question to some of the inmates, but found the red tape involved discouraging. But through one channel or another, she

did manage to get into contact with one prisoner, who sent her a short, yet touching poem answering the question.

For younger kids, Daniell was able to visit classes of local schools and spent time speaking with the students. She changed the phrasing for the youngest groups to “What do you wish for,” to help them understand the question.

These snippets into the inner lives of those around her has allowed Daniell to explore the idea of what we truly value at every stage of life.

With thousands of responses, Daniell had to be picky about what she put in What Matters, as each age group only has a handful of answers. She says she’s found that there are patterns that you find in each age group. So, she picked ones that helped represent or vastly deviated from the patterns.

Kids five and younger are often very practical. The things they find matter (or wish for) are their parents, pets and toys.

Teenagers care about themselves, as they are in the process of learning to be individuals.

Young adults often find importance in definition and finding their niche.

Older adults find themselves back to the practicalities. Daniell recalled with a laugh one 80-year-old woman’s response, “Free bowels and easy boots.”

Daniell also found that what’s on someone’s surface doesn’t always reflect what they find valuable. Responses from certain professions would often surprise her. She says she received quite poetic responses from people who worked in tech. Meanwhile, she had an artist tell her that money is what was important to them.

When asked her own question, Daniell knew exactly what matters for her. She wishes for her kids to be happy and safe, and what she believes matters is “finding your essence.”

She says that people spend their lives finding the best way that they can contribute to the world.

Daniell has found her essence in storytelling. “Numb would be a good word, for me,” she says. “Without finding that contribution."

What Matters is available now in Hedley’s Books in Masterton and Almo Books in Carterton, with more on the way.