The waning days of the trip were spent visiting Heidi’s relatives, exploring Wiener Neustadt and its environs, and pondering the Austrian concept of good health and well-being.
Heidi’s cousin Karl lived in the spa-town of Baden bei Wien, midway between Vienna and Wiener Neustadt. Spa is the key word here when it comes to health. Where in America a spa day is a thing of indulgence and usually enjoyed on special occasions (and when funds were available), in Austria, regular spa attendance is an age-old proven therapy for relieving stress, a leading contributor to many serious illness. With this focus on the benefits of stress relief in mind, the Austrian government has made affordable access to spas for all its citizens, regardless of their economic situations, a top priority. This has come at a steep price however; Austria has one of the highest individual income tax rates in the world.
In the US, the thought of an income tax rate hovering around 50% (half of each dollar earned!) is almost unimaginable, inconceivable. What we are unaware of is that the tax revenues that the Austrian taxing authorities collect goes into programs like universal healthcare and free higher education; two financial areas that are source of tremendous stress for the everyday American household. So which methodology is less stressful (air quotes)? Paying a high tax rate but not having to worry about affording a doctor or earning your bachelor’s degree? Or paying a lower tax rate but having to manage your own medical and educational costs?
Aside from the physiological aspect of the spa treatments, there is also the equally important social dimension. Spas are an ideal place to let your guard down (how much more reserved can you be if you are butt naked!) and open yourself up to new and different ways of thinking or points of view. They can also serve as sounding boards for your harebrained ideas or a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. Both scientific and medical studies from around the globe have shown that deep and meaningful social relationships can help increase the lifespans of individuals, not to mention improve their mental health. If this is truly the case, then the Austrians have it in spades.
Vienna is the European capital city with the most vineyards within its city limits. What do you get when you rearrange the German name for the city of Vienna (“Wien”)? What drink has both health benefits (antioxidants! Resveratrol!) and the ability to help facilitate “deep and meaningful conversation”? I think the Austrians are on to something!
Wine also pairs well with food. And Austrians are sticklers about eating fresh, local, and in season (yet another facet of good health and well-being) . While farmer’s markets are growing in popularity in the US, this tradition has been in Austria for centuries. Farmer’s markets are a weekly event no matter the time of year.
But healthiness does not operate in a vacuum, it begs to be outside. Fortunately for Austria, the country is blessed with a bounty of natural beauty. Maintaining their mountains and lakes and all the greenspaces in between is near and dear to every Austrian’s heart.
