El Paseo

Many years ago, when our family stayed with friends in Spain, we learned of a old Spanish tradition called "el paseo."  El paseo, which means to stroll, takes place after dinner.  During an el paseo, the entire community can be seeing walking the streets, greeting their neighbors, helping their food digest, and burning off calories, as well.  This activity has become part of our family tradition.  My husband and I (and my faithful dog Ginny) try to take a paseo every evening.  When our grown children are home from college and don't have plans for that evening, they join us.  Our modern lives mean we move much less than we need to.  We tend to spend the vast majority of our time sitting behind desks, on the sofa or behind the wheel of a car.  Paseos not only allow us to move our sedentary bodies, but it allows us to reconnect with family and friends.  I would love to see this concept spread as it is one of the most healthy  things one can do.