Yesterday I feel was another step along the road to recovery. Its been some journey lost two family members, life changing injuries but my brother and myself were out on day out in Wicklow the day after my mothers second anniversary and we both realised how far we have come. It was the filming that really blew me away. To hear the passion, honesty, drive and compassion from Tom, Aine and Emer really got to me. Also I got on camera myself and to also hear from fellow participants who I know personally and bonded with how hard it is for everyone but the knowledge, information and experiences we gain here will be taken and used throughout our lives. I feel there’s no certain point in Sankalpa where things just hit u and then everything were doing makes perfect sense like pieces of a jigsaw put into place. Its like u see things more clearly say parts of the programme make sense what the programme is trying to give us. I’m learning about myself, the past, life and the life dealing skills will all give me and all the people here a better chance to get to where they want to get to. I personally could never thank everyone enough as I’m down from 75mls of methadone to 30 and I m confident that with continued support , facilities and friends and staff ill be clean and stay clean. Its my third shot my first detox was done in Mayo under the supervision of a GP and although It was successful I feel I took myself out of the area and the deep routed problems that played a part were buried under the determination and focus and moving back to Dublin I ended up slipping. My second attempt was soon after I found myself in Mountjoy I came down from 80 mls to 20 mls and stopped collecting the 20 I feel now I was punishing myself for earlier let down and snap me out of what I was doing with my life. Both were done without support and my will had a breaking point. I found Sankalpa on web and I lost two family members in two years to add to the mix plus a life threatening injury so I believe if I hadn’t found here I probably would be dead. Im in a good place and the trip yesterday showed me I can have the quality of life that I want Ive put in the hard work now I’m seeing the results. What I learned is Sankalpa works and once your willing to put in the effort and hard work there’s no limits to where you can go and no limits to the help, support, understanding and most importantly respect. I’m hoping to finish this journey with continued support and councilling and my aims to be totally drug free, safe and decent housing also to continue linking to try have lasting employment and depending on circumstances probably college. Yesterdays trip for me was another step for me so thanks to Sankalpa for the structure, support and understanding.

MARK B

I have to say I had a really lovely day yesterday in Wicklow. Even though we rushed in to make the bus (totally my fault) we made it with a few minutes to spare, thankfully the bus was a few minutes late. We left the hussle and bussle of Dublin.

When we arrived in Wicklow I just noticed the noise, there was actually none. No buses or heavy traffic polluting the air. We walked to the ruin’s of a castle which was absolutely stunning the peace and tranquilaty was, to me breathtaking, the water underneath us rushing to the beach below, the calming affect it had on me has still today left me feeling in such a better place. It has lifted my spirit so much, cause I’ve been feeling a bit low lately.

Tom asked a few of us questions about Sankalpa and reducing and the response was all positive which is brilliant, it is great to see so many positive addicts getting their act together. It’s not easy but they are working so well on becoming better people.

We then went to have something to eat in a place called Healthy Habits. I personally didn’t like what was on the menu but did try a smootie and dessert, which were both really nice. Other’s got some of the food, which some really liked and others didn’t like so much. Everybody was in good form and the conversation was flowing.

A few of us went for a walk up to the town and into Wicklow Goal, which was very interesting, the day went by so fast but all in all it was a great day.

Annmarie Ruth

Hi all

           Yesterday we went to Wicklow with Sankalpa, my day started at 7am as my bro was in the hospital with an appointment at 8.30 am so we were on a tight time frame. Mark picked me up at 7.30 and headed to town, got to the hospital on time but our buss was leaving at 10am so we were watching the time. The clock was ticking away and no sign of him getting called and out of no were we heard his name been called. We left the hospital and were trying to get parking but that was a disaster as the ticket for parking only lets u stay there for 3hours so we were in the shit.

We rang Tom and explained our little problem and at this stage it was 10am and every one was at the buss and we were stuck with no parking place. . We ended up missing the buss and we took the decision to take the car so off we went to the M50 and Wicklow was our destination.

As we pulled into the town u could see the sea in the distant and it was a lovely view every were u looked. We parked at the start of the town and went on a walk true the town as we got there a bit before the group that got the buss so we waited and seen the buss pass with every body on it and the stop was up the town a bit but we all met and went to a beautiful place Tom knew called the (BLACK CASTLE) and I have to say the view was like something you see on a postcard .Tom took a few pictures and interviewed a few of the lads on tape. After that we headed off towards the town for lunch…

We went to a place on a back street that is called the community of love and in this place we have 22 people that grow there own different foods and I have to say you will hate the food or like it but I got a Danish rap and in it had different sorts of veg, beetroot, onion, and I had a strew berry smoothly that was so tasteful. We had a talk with the local and he told us how the little community works. Nice people.

That brought us to the end of the day so we had a walk around the town with a few of the Sankalpa group as the was leaving at 3pm so me and mark went 4 the car and drove home and it was a good day and id like to thank every body that was there and the staff that organised the trip,. …THANKS TO ALL  ………..David….Sankalpa.

I really enjoyed the trip; the weather was lovely, and bus journey seemed to have flew in. The best part of the day for me was were we done the filming, the scenery was gorgeous I felt very relaxed and calm in myself.

The food place was very different, I enjoyed the inside of the wrap, and the desert a coconut square and the hot chocolate was gorgeous, the staff was really friendly too. We then walked to the little town to have a look around after that a few of us went to the Wicklow Jail, the tour guide fella was nice enough to show us around a bit of the Prison we got to see the cells and landings.  After that we headed for the bus, there was a tiny little park right beside the bus stop which we flaked out in till the bus arrived, I’d a really enjoyable day, and loved to getting out of the area. 

Lynne