Monday, April 2nd will forever be etched as a significant day for the Omamori Spa family, the day we had the profound privilege of meeting and connecting with Thu Thuong. But this wasn’t just any meeting; it was an encounter with an extraordinary individual – our sister Thu Thuong. Born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), a condition that has led to hundreds of bone fractures, Thu Thuong’s physical form has remained that of an 80-cm infant, despite her being over three decades in age. Yet, her spirit and vision are anything but small.
Thu Thuong is the remarkable founder of the Thuong Thuong Handmade Center, a beacon of hope that provides invaluable training and employment opportunities for numerous disabled youths in the intricate art of quilling. As we shared our stories and philosophies, a deep sense of kinship blossomed. We discovered a remarkable number of parallels in our approaches to business and our fundamental values in life. Both Omamori Spa and Thuong Thuong Handmade Center are driven by a commitment to crafting highly-skilled, dedicated, and high-value-added products and services that cater to the discerning needs of high-end clientele.
Thu Thuong articulated a powerful belief that resonated deeply with our own journey: “I never envisioned producing low-quality handmade products that clients purchased out of mere charity.” This conviction mirrored our own aspirations to be recognized for excellence, not sympathy. She went on to share a sentiment that echoed the challenges we sometimes face: “Sometimes, my staff felt frustrated and complained about clients’ high demands, but I always reminded them that these very demanding clients are the ones who sustain us. If they sought simplicity, they could easily find a bundle of inexpensive, mass-produced quilling items at the market. There would be no reason for them to seek out our unique craftsmanship!
Her words, her story, felt like a reflection of our own experiences at Omamori Spa. In that moment, I was struck by a sudden recollection of Joe’s insightful book, “Ngược chiều vun vút” (Against the Wind). Yes, Thu Thuong and Thuong Thuong Handmade Center, just like us at Omamori Spa, have consciously chosen a different path – a different way of thinking, a different way of operating, and a different journey, often in opposition to conventional approaches. The question that lingers, the challenge we both face, is: will our unique paths lead to a transformative shift, or will we be overwhelmed by the headwinds of convention?
