He was homeless. Addicted to drugs and had a criminal past. Khalil Rafati thought he was finished. He was emaciated, 106lbs, covered head to toe in sores. He was done. Dying. The heroin was taking him… That was thirteen years ago.
Now? Rafiti is still alive. And thriving. He’s 46 years old. Back to full health. Well, he’s fitter and healthier than ever before. Not only that – he’s now wildly successful too! He’s the man behind the SunLife Organics juice bars in California.
“There was no more digging left to do, all of my shovels were broken”, he says. “I was done. I started trying juices and superfoods and the results were remarkable and instantaneous. You need energy. Lethargy in sobriety is pretty brutal, especially if you’re coming off a long run with Class A drugs.”
Then he started making his own juices and smoothies and taking them to his rehab and therapy groups.
“So many outsiders came to the program I was on – Riviera Recovery – just to enjoy one of my smoothies. It even became a bit embarrassing since many of these people were not part of the Riviera Recovery program.”
Rafati escaped a life of abuse and pain in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio many years ago and headed, like so many do, to Tinseltown. The City of Angels. Los Angeles. But, as with so many others, his dreams quickly turned to nightmares. He found himself in trouble with the law and on skid row.
But he turned it all around and is now living a rich, full and happy life. His range of celebrity clientele and friend now include Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman – and former drug addict himself – Anthony Kiedis, as well as X-Files and Aquarius actor David Duchovny.
Rafati spends a lot of time and money helping others now he’s in a strong position. He says his mission now is to ‘love, heal and inspire’.
Those words are written on jackets and shirts and hats that sells through SunLife Organics brand and out of his bars. And it’s a strong message to promote.
Best of luck in the future, Khalil! You’re a true inspiration, man.
