I Don't Easily Recommend Raising a Dog - 저는 반려견을 쉽게 추천하지 않습니다.
Many people tell me how beautiful Ruby and Rich are.
Some ask me,
"How old are they?"
When I answer,
"They are ten years old,"
they are often surprised.
They say,
"They look healthy."
Some even compliment their strong muscles.
That always makes me smile.
But I usually don't answer,
"Thank you."
Instead, I quietly think about everything that happened during the last ten years.
People often see the result.
They don't always see the responsibility behind it.
Raising a dog is not simply feeding them every day.
It means waking up early, even when you are tired.
It means going for walks in the rain, the wind, or the cold.
It means cleaning, brushing, visiting the veterinarian, and worrying when they become sick.
Most of all, it means making a promise that lasts for many years.
That is why I don't easily recommend raising a dog.
Love is important.
But love alone is not enough.
Responsibility must walk beside it.
During COVID, when the world became quiet for almost three years, Ruby and Rich quietly stayed beside me.
Every morning, they asked me to go for a walk.
Even on days when I felt tired, I couldn't ignore their eyes.
So I got up.
We walked together.
Looking back, I sometimes wonder if they were taking care of me more than I was taking care of them.
They gave me a reason to keep moving.
A reason to go outside.
A reason to smile.
They never complained.
They simply stayed beside me.
People often think I gave Ruby and Rich a good life.
Perhaps that is true.
But they gave me something just as valuable.
They gave me unconditional love, quiet loyalty, and faithful companionship.
They are not my whole life.
But they are a big part of my life story.
That is why I don't easily recommend raising a dog.
It is a beautiful gift.
But it is also a lifelong responsibility.
If you are ready for both,
you may discover one of the greatest friendships life can offer.
Today's Verdict
Every choice closes one door and opens another.
I may have traveled to fewer places, but because of Ruby and Rich, I traveled more deeply into love, responsibility, and gratitude.
KR Summary
많은 사람들이 루비와 리치를 보며 건강하고 근육도 좋다고 칭찬합니다. 하지만 사람들은 보이는 모습만 볼 뿐, 그 뒤에 있는 10년 동안의 책임과 시간을 모두 보지는 못합니다.
반려견을 키운다는 것은 먹이를 주는 것만이 아닙니다. 피곤한 날에도 산책을 하고, 아플 때 병원을 가고, 매일 돌보며 오랫동안 책임지는 일입니다. 그래서 저는 반려견을 쉽게 추천하지 않습니다. 사랑만으로는 부족하고, 사랑과 함께 책임이 따라야 하기 때문입니다.
특히 COVID 기간 동안 루비와 리치는 제 곁을 묵묵히 지켜주었습니다. 매일 산책을 하자고 저를 깨웠고, 그 덕분에 저는 계속 걷고, 밖으로 나가고, 건강을 유지할 수 있었습니다.
돌이켜 보면 제가 아이들을 돌본 것 같지만, 어쩌면 아이들이 저를 더 많이 돌봐준 것인지도 모릅니다.
루비와 리치는 제 인생의 전부는 아닙니다.
하지만 제 인생 이야기의 아주 큰 한 부분입니다.
그래서 저는 반려견을 쉽게 추천하지 않습니다.
그것은 아름다운 선물이지만, 동시에 평생의 책임이기 때문입니다.
그 책임까지 기꺼이 받아들일 준비가 되어 있다면, 인생에서 가장 소중한 동반자를 만나게 될지도 모릅니다.
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