Living in Centreville, I used to just notice flowers blooming, nice weather, and lots of people when I went for walks, but these days, every time I step outside, I can't help but notice how beautiful the dogs are!

Even while sitting in front of a café sipping coffee, when I see a passing Golden Retriever, my heart melts, and while waiting at the bus stop, if someone walks by with a Maltese, I can't help but smile. I always liked dogs, but lately, it's really gotten intense. They say as you get older, your affection goes to animals, and I guess I'm one of those cases.

As you know, there are quite a few Koreans in Centreville, and with the spacious neighborhoods and parks scattered around, I feel like I see at least ten dogs a day, even if I don't walk them. A Shiba Inu sitting quietly in front of Safeway waiting for its owner, and when a little kid passing by waves and says 'Hi puppy!', that cuteness makes its tail wag. Ah, my lips just naturally curl up. Sometimes I can't tell if I went shopping or just to see dogs.

Especially on weekend mornings, it feels like there's a dog festival at Centreville Regional Park. A French Bulldog is running around on the grass, its ears flapping in the wind, while a white Pomeranian rolls around like cotton candy, and in the distance, a Shepherd is training, looking seriously at its owner. Watching that, there are times when the dogs seem happier than the people.

A few days ago, I went to Costco and saw a Husky that looked like it came straight out of a movie in the parking lot. Its eyes were blue, and its fur was flowing, so shiny that I wanted to ask which dermatologist it goes to. When the owner opened the door, it didn't just get out; it walked down slowly and confidently, as if to say, "I'm taking all the attention today."

But what's really amazing is that the variety of dog breeds has increased. In the past, it seemed like there were just Pomeranians, Maltese, and Retrievers, but recently, there are mixed breeds with names I've never heard of that are just so beautiful.

Golden Doodle, a mix of Golden Retriever and Poodle? Its fur is fluffy, but its body is slim, and its personality is so sweet. When people pass by, they exclaim, "Oh my god, so cute!" And I don't know if it's a trend, but there are really a lot of people walking small dogs with matching tone-on-tone harnesses. Pink harness, pink leash, and the owner's hoodie is also pink! A couple look with their dog... it makes me think about adopting a puppy myself.

There are tons of dogs in parks around Fairfax and Chantilly too. You should check out Greenbriar Park. I met a Beagle playing on the walking path next to the baseball field, and it suddenly came over and nudged my leg with its nose, and in that moment, my heart felt a jolt. Even when the owner apologizes and pulls on the leash, I automatically respond, "Oh, it's okay~ so cute!" That one touch can brighten my whole day.

And this is a bit embarrassing, but I confess... these days, I sometimes go for walks just for the fun of seeing dogs. I feel like even if there are no people around, I must see at least one dog. When the weather is nice and I see dogs walking confidently with their leashes, I feel like I'm getting the benefits of walking too. It somehow makes the neighborhood feel warmer.

Sometimes I even think, "Should I get one?" But the reality is household chores, work, schedules... taking care of one small life is a big responsibility, so I hesitate to make a decision. Still, having so many beautiful dogs in the neighborhood feels so healing.

These days, when I see people's faces, they look tired and busy, but on the contrary, dogs seem to want to enjoy their day, and that shows on their faces. That's why when I see a dog, even for a moment, my heart relaxes, and I think, 'Yeah, life doesn't have to be so complicated.' I will probably keep looking at beautiful dogs when I go for walks. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be walking with a dog on the same path.

For now, just watching is enough to make me happy.