I love Italy as any good American should. I had the opportunity to spend a couple of weeks there basking in the Mediterranean sun long before I was known as “dad”. Spending time in a foreign country exposes what’s great and awful about your own country. The Italian passeggiata is one of those things that makes me wish I grew up in Italy.
What is the Passeggiata?
Passeggiata translates to stroll in English. But it in Italy, the passeggiata is much more than a mere stroll—it’s a social event. In larger cities like Rome, Florence and Milan, people typically take an early evening walk up and down the main street. In Rome, for example, the main locale for a passeggiata is the Via del Corso, which connects the Piazza del Popolo to the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument.
People dress up to be seen and to watch their neighbors. For me, it’s the most Italian thing I’ve experienced. When I participated in a passeggiata, I was woefully underdressed and stood out like the American I am. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the early evening air and sights.
For me, the best part of any passeggiata was walking with my wife while enjoying a delicious gelato. The simple pleasures are what make life great. Upon returning to the United States, it became painfully clear that the passeggiata is not a thing—at least where I live. Sure, people go on walks but they don’t typically gather to walk to be seen or socialize.
My Own Passeggiata
Most evenings you’ll find me strolling the neighborhood with my family. I don’t look forward to much anymore but I do love a good walk with the family. Managing a household of kids is a thankless and stressful job. The best way to decompress from the day is with a leisurely walk together. I feel like a family walk is the only time when my wife and I can connect. We enjoy watching the boys run up and down the road while pointing out things that catch their eye.
I’m especially partial to pushing our baby in his stroller. I love seeing the top of his head, his little hands and feet bouncing, all while he takes in the scenery.
Garbage Time
I learned about Garbage Time from a podcast I listened to with Jerry Seinfeld. In short, Garbage Time is all of the time you spend with somebody doing in-between tasks. You don’t need to plan events in order to spend “quality” time with your family. In my experience, the planned outings with my family tend to be the most stressful moments we share.
Instead, I look forward to taking my son to school or going on a walk with the family. I don’t need much to enjoy my family. It turns out the easiest way to love your family is by spending time with them.
The fondest memories of my children were created doing mundane things. I think back to how the sun shined on my oldest son’s face while feeding him one Sunday afternoon. The light made his big blue eyes shine brighter than I had seen. Or seeing my middle son walk off of a playground toy while I ran to catch him. And with the baby, I have many great memories of seeing his head swivel back and forth while taking in the scenery.
Make It Your Own
Sure I don’t dress up when I take a passeggiata with my family but that’s not the point. I can embrace the Italian spirit of an evening stroll and make it my own. The weather doesn’t have to be perfect either. Being out in the world, breathing fresh air, and having a great conversation is all I need to be happy.
Thank you, as always, for your attention.
This brought a tear to my eyes. Beautifully said. You are blessed with 3 great boys as I am with grandsons