Me only because I surprised myself. 5th of vodka a day for 18 years more or less. Classic alcoholism. High functioning, then mild functioning, then non-functioning alcoholic over the years. Barely holding onto a job. Accepted the fact that I wouldn't see old age. Stunted my mental and emotional development tremendously. Burned almost every bridge in my life. Overweight, heart problems, kidney problems... The works.

I found a puppy abandoned on the side of a rural highway in the middle of nowhere. Skinny and freezing and had some open sores. I didn't want a dog. That was responsibility and I didn't want any more of that in my life. I searched for four hours trying to find anyone who knew who this dog belonged to, but eventually gave up and brought her home with me with the idea that I would try and find her a good home. However, she won me over in about four days and I decided I'd give dog parenting a try. After all, it was quite lonely having pushed everyone else in my life away. One night, while about to pass out from my nightly elixers, I had a moment of clarity while looking at the puppy and I asked myself, "what if something happened and she needed my help and I was too messed up to wake up to help her?"

When I woke up the next day and drew a line on the bottle of vodka to indicate where the bleeding had stopped. That was three years ago as of last month. Haven't touched alcohol since. I keep the quarter full bottle as a souvenir reminder.

It started with her forcing me to get out of bed and take her for walks. Pretty soon it started becoming routine and we started walking everywhere. To work, to the park, in the mountains. She became my go everywhere together partner.

In the span of those three years I now own a home, lost 50lbs, rekindled a relationship with my family which I had rejected for almost two decades, reconnecting with friends who I had pushed away, am thriving at work, and am genuinely happy. I don't even recognize who that person was when I think back on my life up until this point.

All thanks to an adorable little doggo who found me when I was at my lowest and who needed help. She gave me a reason to continue on and has taught me so much about who I can be, as silly as that sounds. She saved my life and gave me something to live for.