Rachal Sharp: Nothing Could Keep Her Sober

Hello, I am very excited to be a part of this tribe.

My life is imperfectly full of flaws. I was abused physically, verbally, and mentally by my older half brother when I was 3 or 4, and around  age 7 I was sexually abused by a family friends nephew multiple times at a neighborhood park. In fear of my dad losing his friendship or not being believed, I never told my parents until I was 21. My teenage years, into well adulthood, I struggled  with depression, anxiety,  substance abuse,  and very unhealthy relationships. I had many abusive relationships.  Watched my mom have a paranoid psychotic breakdown. Almost lost my dad to a heart attack  within the same year.

I Became a heroin and cocaine addict. Nothing could keep me sober, I'd been through 5 or 6 treatment centers. I couldn't understand why I couldn't stay clean, my parents wanted it for me so bad. Until one day I just woke up. Moved out of my parent's house, rented a room from gay men I didn't even know.  Got a puppy,  and that's really when things clicked for me and my life. I looked at this puppy that didn't have anyone else in the world. I was responsible for another life. And I literally  took it one day at a time. Sometimes minutes at a time. And when I had cravings, I looked into this gorgeous pups eyes and took her for a walk. She saved me. And I decided I needed to save others.

So 6 months clean, I got my own mobile home and started fostering dogs. Became a dog trainer.  And though I loved my baby girl so much I knew, because  if her breed, she deserved a home where she could have a big yard to run. It killed me, and felt like I lost a child. But I found her the best dad that had 3 aces and a pond. She has an amazingly beautiful  life. And I saved a pitbull who ended up having to have his leg amputated. I dived into researching bully breeds and advocating  for them. And protesting the bans cities, states, companies, etc. And trained extremely "aggressive" ones.

Anyways. I can proudly say, today I am two and a half years clean and sober.  Happily  engaged to the love of my life. And work at a treatment and behavioral health center for youths and young adults. So many people and dogs have touched my life and made/make me want to be a better person. I know and have accepted I will never be perfect. I've come to embrace my flaws. My past is a chaotic disaster. But it made me who I am today. And I'm beautiful.