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Keep on Keeping on

Thank you for being here!


After having experienced a health challenge, I decided to create a poetry workshop to share my process of recovery. Based on this, and on poetry I wrote and read during my road to recovering my health, I offered a free workshop on Saturday, July 27, 2024 for anyone who is dealing with illness. In particular it was designed for those of us who've been struggling with chronic illnesses, such as Long Covid--the latter of which much is still to be known, even by the medical community. Some research since 2021 has been growing in awareness of its ramifications, its contours and symptoms, and possible remedies...though the road is long, too long for many of us. Did you know that, according to Shannon McGuire, a physiotherapist of the Outpatient Acquired Brain Injury Program, Post-Acute Covid Rehab Program SJHC – Parkwood Institute at London, Ontario, Canada, approximately 30% or more of people who have had acute Covid develop Long Covid symptoms, and many of those patients suffer with symptoms for months and even years, as they try to find ways to heal, and to accept the long healing journey and its pitfalls. And most of those diagnosed are women between the ages of 40 and 60, though not exclusively.


This creative writing workshop is for you if you would like support and companionship along that kind of path. I envisioned it to help others, and wrote much of it over many months of the end of my long three-year healing recovery time period. I am still experiencing some symptoms, but have fortunately (thank God!) been able to slowly return to work. So I was finally able to host and deliver this first free workshop this past weekend, and recorded it so as to share it widely with anyone who may need it or like to learn more about how to support and encourage family members, friends, co-workers and patients they know who are also struggling with Long Covid. Some aspects of the poems discussed are also applicable to healing in other health situations and conditions.

Please feel free to comment below, and remember this is a safe space, so this is only for encouraging each other, sharing helpful information and for learning more.


Some of the themes involve dealing with the mental health challenges that come with debilitating effects on energy, emotions and health effects, when you have a long lasting condition such as Long Covid that affects so much of your being and ability to take part in the world. By referring to some poetry about healing and similar themes, as well as sharing my own poem about Long Covid titled "Waiting," I then offer some poetic tools to write about your experiences. My hope is that it can help you feel less alone or less misunderstood, and also give you safe way to share your emotions and thoughts. At the end of the workshop I invite you to share your poem with me! If you feel like, but it is absolutely not necessary. But I am here to witness you and your feelings, if you'd let me and would like to do so. Also, there will be more upcoming live workshops that are planned, and if you'd like to receive notifications about those, do let me know. which will also be free, and will feature other poems and other poetry exercises. Do you have to like poetry to see this and/or participate? Absolutely not! Think of each poem as a song with silent music :) And you can listen along and see if something resonates with you and gives voice to something you are going through.




This was designed to provide solace to you if you have been on the Long Covid healing journey. By sharing my experiences, this workshop and talk offers a safe space for individuals navigating the challenges of Long Covid to express thoughts and emotions through poetry.


You will have the opportunity to be led through a creative writing process, as well as hear and read poetry selected in tune with healing in this regard. To learn more about this and any upcoming workshops led by me, feel free to reach out at mfiguere@yorku.ca, in the comments below, or via my contact page here on my official website at: www.mariafigueredo.com


Wishing you healing and peace!






Do you or someone you know have Long Covid?

  • yes

  • no

  • I don't know?

  • Maybe?


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