✹ Meet Zoe
Hello, my name is Simphiwe Twala known as Zoe, and I’ve been vegan for the past 4 years and 8 months now. I’m from Springs based in the east of Johannesburg, sharing home cooked plant-based meals.
✹ What are three values that you live by?
1. Gratitude. There are many things to be grateful for in life, but many of us might take them for granted. The most important things can be the minor things that happen to us every day, and since they are so mundane, we tend to overlook them.
2. Courage. It simply means you can stand up for what is right despite the pressure from others. Taking risks is something you can do if there is something of worth that you can gain. Conquering your fears and stepping out of your comfort zone are also things you can do when you have courage as a core value.
3. Adaptability. Life is full of changes, and we never know when they can happen. You can make all the plans that you want for your daily life and the future, but other factors will always play a part in changing the outcome that we might be expecting. A better way to handle life is to learn how to be flexible and adapt to the changes that happen in our lives. You have to be flexible when it comes to decision-making and adapt to whatever new challenges come your way.
✹ What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
I found the hardest thing was dealing with other people – the people who mock veganism, who try to catch you in an ethical conundrum to point out why veganism is wrong.
The “plants have feelings” people, the “if we don’t eat cows, they’ll take over the earth” people. The “how do you know someone is vegan… they’ll tell you” people. Those especially drive me crazy, but I overcome that by sharing how simple and easy veganism can be through my socials.
✹ What helps you to stay vegan?
What helps me stay vegan is that I make sure I keep my kitchen stocked with vegan ingredients. I take my own food with me to work. Veganism is a lifestyle and definitely should not be restrictive. So whether you choose to eat more whole food vegan food or not, view the vegan shift as a lifestyle change, not a diet.
✹ What advice do you have for going vegan?
The advice I would give to someone who wants to go vegan is that they could start by removing meat or dairy one day a week and go from there. Or they could try changing one meal at a time, having vegan breakfasts during your first week, adding a vegan lunch during week two and so on.
✹ If you had one wish for the world, what would it be?
My wish for the world is love, peace, kindness, and unity. If mankind could be united, the world’s problems will be solved.
So I wish for everyone to be strong and patient, to work hard to improve the way of their lives, to not fall into the lie of despair, and to be happy because we can always find happiness even in small things.
