Florra is one of our newest businesses in Downtown Campbell, but it's blended in so well to the Downtown Campbell scene that it feels like it's been here for years. On the occasion of September being Self-Care Awareness Month, we're sharing with you an excerpt of the story of how Thuy Ha chose to take her life in a new direction and start a retail business to help people practice self-care.
Thuy's Story
Florra is an outer expression of everything I believe in—beauty, wellness, self-care, and living in harmony with each other and the earth. My vision for this store came from a very deep and authentic place, one that took a very long time for me to uncover—and I believe it's the reason why many customers seem to resonate with the store so much.
Like so many, my purpose came from much pain. I had been living my life on autopilot for many years, doing and accomplishing the things I thought would make me happy. I was living someone else's perfect life but it was far from my own truth. I soon learned that when we ignore our soul's whispers, our bodies will make us take notice.
I began experiencing physical and emotional health issues along with a deep inner knowing that something was off. I tried everything during that time to get better but I soon found that nothing was going to heal me overnight. It took years of ignoring my body and my soul to get to that low point, so it would take some time for things to get better. I began by eating a cleaner diet of organic and unprocessed foods. I switched out all of the personal care products in my home to ones with natural ingredients and without harmful toxins. I sought out holistic healing modalities such as acupuncture and even became a certified Reiki practitioner. The journey was ultimately about loving myself, listening to my body, and honoring my soul.
The best remedies though, were found in the smallest moments—salt baths with flowers and candles, a warm cup of chai tea at dawn, burning cleansing smoke, and inhaling fragrant essential oils. It wasn’t long before I started feeling like myself again. I garnered the courage to walk away from the things I no longer resonated with and rebuilt my life with more authenticity and purpose.
Self-care has since become a non-negotiable for me. It’s a ritual that I practice often and diligently. I opened Florra in hopes of inspiring many others to do the same for themselves. There's nothing better for our wellbeing than slowing down, being present, and taking time for small and sacred moments.
Since we opened, Florra has become a space for community gathering through our many different workshops and events. This aspect of the store is what I cherish most as it brings me so much joy to hold space for these enchanting evenings filled with togetherness and all-around good vibes. Sometimes, the events are profoundly healing; other times, they are fun and vibrant.
I have fallen in love with the town of Campbell and all of the friendly and warm people I've met these past months. I can't wait to see how Florra will grow and evolve in this lovely community that I now call home.
— With love, Thuy
