Each month, Elements Retirement founder Chiou See Anderson talks to someone about the positive aspects of retirement. This month, she speaks to Elements village manager Dana Voyle.
CSA: In your role as Village Manager @ Elements, you are required to interact daily with residents, contractors, prospective buyers and staff. How do you cope with people who are less than positive?
DV: It is important to take the emotion out of these situations. Whilst it can (at times) be challenging, you really need to stop and take a moment to consider why someone may be acting out in an unhappy, negative or even difficult manner. Things are often not what they seem, and we never know what is happening behind closed doors, or what an individual may be dealing with emotionally. It can be hard to remember but it is often not personal. Taking the time to reflect on this question has helped to bring these sorts of things back into perspective.
CSA: Do you credit your positive attitude to your upbringing or is it something that you actively work at as you got older?
DV: I do feel I have always had a positive attitude growing up as a child. I have some wonderful memories from my childhood and even those memories that were not so wonderful, I think I did a fairly good job of reflecting and seeking the right people and attitudes to create positive outcomes. Since becoming a mum, I am more aware of the importance of surrounding myself with positive people so much so that it has become the norm.
CSA: What is it about your upbringing that enabled this attitude or what did you do to help build a positive attitude
DV: I think that having a competitive nature from childhood has played a part in my attitude toward life. I played team sports as soon as I was big enough and being part of a team is all about being supportive, encouraging and positive. Even the losses and injuries build resilience.  I would say that team sports contribute greatly to creating a positive attitude.
CSA: Who would you pick as the 3 most positive people in your life
DV: 1) Aunty Keary. Growing up, we had the most wonderful lady who lived next door. She was an ‘aunt’ to my sister and me. She would babysit us, but we would also go and ask to stay the night because we loved being around her. She was a Christian lady who grew up with her 8 siblings in the same family home and was the youngest and last one left. She never married, had only her faith and was always just so happy and positive all the time.  I am sure there were times when she wondered how her life would have been if she had met someone, but she always seemed at peace with her life.
2) Papa. My grandfather on my mum’s side. He was an Australian war hero, a family man and successful businessman. I would crumble in his presence with feelings of safety and happiness. I remember reading his diary (after he died) of his experience fighting in the Battle of Kokoda and wondered how on earth he seemed to live and love life so much after his life as a soldier.
- Is it arrogant to say ‘me’? I am in my own life 24/7 so it just makes sense that I seek my own positivity to live a full and rich life.
CSA: What would you say to your 18-year-old selfÂ
DV: Stop every single day and pause for a moment (or two). I am celebrating a milestone birthday in a couple of months and reflection is probably the one thing I wish I had taken more time for in life. Â
