Behind the Scenes: Living with MS While Running My Business
Behind the Scenes: Living with MS While Running My Business
I don’t talk about this often. In fact, I almost never do.
But today, I feel it’s time to share something more personal, something that shapes my daily life and, inevitably, how I run my business: I live with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
MS is an unpredictable and often invisible illness. It affects everyone differently, and for me, it comes in waves, some more manageable than others. You might see me at a tea festival, engaging with guests, or carefully curating teas online and assume everything is fine. And in many ways, it is. I am fine. But “fine” can be complicated.
There are days when blurry vision makes it hard to see what I’m working on. Other times, I might experience sudden numbness in my limbs, like my hands deciding they don’t want to cooperate while packing orders or writing notes. I’ve found myself forgetting things that should be second nature, simple steps or familiar concepts, only to remember them later with frustration and fatigue.
And then there are the interruptions I don’t plan for. Needing to suddenly step away because my body demands a restroom break, not in a few minutes, but now. These aren’t things I bring up often, if at all. I’m used to pushing through. I’ve had to be.
Running a business is never easy, but doing it with a chronic condition adds a layer of challenge that few see. It requires grit, patience, flexibility, and grace toward myself when I can’t operate at 100%.
Why share this now?
Because honesty matters. Because so many people live with invisible illnesses while showing up every day with quiet strength. And because I want you to know that when I say, “I’m fine,” I might be navigating multiple symptoms behind the scenes.
Despite all this, or maybe because of it, I am deeply committed to my work. Cultivate Taste Tea is more than a business, it’s a passion built on over 30 years of knowledge and a deep love of tea. It’s my way of bringing beauty, care, and intention into the world, even on the hardest days.
If you’ve ever supported my business, know that you’re supporting something real and deeply personal. Thank you for being part of this journey.
With warmth and gratitude,
Jennifer Nowicki
Founder, Cultivate Taste Tea
MS Awareness Resources:
If you’re curious about MS or want to support those living with it, here are a few resources:
Awareness leads to understanding and understanding leads to empathy.
If this post resonated with you:
🫖 Share it with someone who needs to hear that strength often looks quiet.
🫖 Support a small business run with heart and perseverance shop Cultivate Taste Tea.
🫖 Leave a kind comment or share your own story. I’d love to hear it.
#MultipleSclerosisAwareness #InvisibleIllness #WomenInBusiness #ChronicIllnessWarrior #MSWarrior #AuthenticBusiness #TeaWithHeart #CultivateTaste #SmallBusinessJourney #WellnessAndTea #DisabilityAwareness #TeaHeals #RealTalk
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