Celebrating Ten Years Of Mahevash Muses

Feb 17, 2015. That’s the day I published my first post, Do Or Regret: The Choice Is Yours.

I had no idea then that my blog, Mahevash Muses, would become a core part of my identity, both online and offline. Like many bloggers at the time, I started with a free WordPress.com blog. Two years in, realizing this blog was going somewhere, I switched to a self-hosted platform. My URL changed from mahevashmuses.wordpress.com to mahevashmuses.com.

Today, on the tenth anniversary of Mahevash Muses, I am overwhelmed by how far we have come as a community.

What started as a passion project gradually turned into a side hustle. Posts that I wrote to opine on culture, society, and mental health began to resonate with my audience. I use the word ‘audience’ now, but honestly, back when I began, and even today, I didn’t expect to have more than three readers. The topics that I chose to discuss were often a little unconventional, you see. Plus, I have long been my biggest critic. My self-deprecation is something I still work on in therapy to date. But I digress.

Dear readers, I am immensely grateful for your time, and I do not take your attention for granted. While I did turn off comments on my blog because managing them had become unfeasible, I still revisit them when I need some motivation to keep writing. The same goes for your emails. Our shared struggles and victories have kept me going on more days than I can remember. So I am counting on your continued support as we head in a new direction.

The thing is, the media industry has been falling apart for a while now.

Getting steady, well-paying work as a neurodivergent freelance writer has never been easy. AI tools like ChatGPT have made things so much worse. And you know what? I think it’s time to take matters into my own hands. If there is no seat for me at their table, I have to build a new table. Hold up! The iconic Madam C. J. Walker has said it way better than me; check out her quote below.

"I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them."– Madam C.J. Walker — Image courtesy Etsy

It is not fair that there is little to no space for people like me at the existing table. But there’s nothing new to see here, is there? Minorities like me have always struggled — and in the current political environment, things are only set to get worse.

Media industry-specific issues aside, like many of you, I have been struggling with hustle culture and toxic productivity.

Even though humans are making strides in multiple facets of life, it seems we are collectively regressing when it comes to the world of work. If you are in your twenties/thirties/forties, you are probably ware that our parents had fixed working hours, realistic deadlines, and manageable work pressure. How many of us can say the same today? The short video below best describes how poisonous this attitude is for ALL of us.

Work culture is becoming increasingly toxic by the day. If you are neurodivergent, have a chronic illness, or are going through major life changes, I am sure you will understand when I say that not all of us are able to participate in hustle culture. And when we don’t, we get punished.

We miss out on career opportunities, get underpaid, and are overlooked simply for not fitting in. For the record, all of these things have happened to me, and it has been tough. Doesn’t it sting when you are unable to get ahead in life for no fault of your own?

Everybody does not have “the same 24 hours in a day”. Some of us have spoons instead.

Yes, I am referring to the brilliant Christine Miserandino’s Spoon Theory for people dealing with chronic illness, chronic disability, and chronic pain. Of course, this includes neurodivergent folks. If you are not familiar with this theory, take a look at this image.

Spoon Theory Explained By MePedia: A person has roughly the same amount of energy each day. Each unit of energy is represented by a spoon. Healthy people have more spoons (energy) than those with an illness that causes chronic fatigue. Some activities cost more spoons than others. A person with a fatiguing chronic illness needs to make decisions about which activities to spend their limited number of spoons (energy) on -- the illness stops them doing many things they want to do. The chronic illness means that if the person does too much in the morning, they will not have enough spoons left for the afternoon or evening. The chronic illness may mean that a person can do something in the morning OR on the afternoon - but NOT both. They may seem inconsistent because their energy levels and number of spoons fluctuate. A healthy person does not need to plan how to spend their spoons, because they do not have an illness that limits them. — Image Courtesy MePedia

Please note that a healthy or “normal” person usually has an unlimited number of spoons per day. Some of us don’t have this privilege; we have to continuously assess how we spend our energy aka spoons.

On most days, I am running low on spoons. Having lower energy levels than the average person limits my productivity.

I am slower at doing things than the average person. Of course, I deliver quality work. But that isn’t enough for most employers today because they want both quality and quantity. In a world where healthy people struggle to meet impossible deadlines at work, imagine just how much harder it is for people like me. DEI has been a mere buzzword in my experience, but I was hopeful for this to change in the future.

With those in power eliminating DEI programs like they are unnecessary, the future looks bleak. We misfits have to create our own opportunities.

Because I AM ambitious. I don’t know why ambition is glorified when it comes to men and vilified in the case of women. But that’s a topic for another time.

Even as I live with double depression, I am ambitious to the extent that I want my own Wikipedia page one day. While fame sounds great, what matters more to me is getting this message out there: as long as you are not harming anyone, it’s perfectly okay to be different.

Going forward, Mahevash Muses will be more than a side hustle—it will be a brand. And that’s where you come in, dear readers.

This is much more than a rebrand, it’s a social cause. As I redefine my vision and make design changes, I need your support more now than ever. Can I count on you?

Truthfully, I never wanted to set up my own business. All I have ever wanted to do is write. But life and circumstances have led me down this road. Since I have been unofficially running a small business for the past few years, I might as well do it officially — and willingly.

Check out my new logo below for a sneak peek at some upcoming changes.

Here are some more changes you can expect:

Spotlighting diverse voices through interviews and guest posts with fascinating individuals from all walks of life.
Expanding collaborations by partnering with brands and fellow creators to bring fresh, meaningful content.
Championing those who defy norms, creating a space where people who don’t fit the mold feel seen and supported.
Building a sustainable, independent platform that thrives on authenticity, inclusivity, and community-driven growth.

My ultimate goal? To reach a position of influence where I can uplift others who have been shut out for being different.

For all of the above reasons, I will try my best to make Mahevash Muses a recognizable brand. And since I am neither a nepo baby nor someone with generational wealth, I need all the support I can get.

So much to do, so little time. Let’s get started.

If you made it to the end of this post, you are awesome! Click here to help shape the future of Mahevash Muses.