Joe Sesil and I met on an engineering project in Austin, TX about 4 years ago. We were fast friends and fellow travelers. Through our early discussions Joe shared his desire to be on a purposeful spiritual journey of enlightenment. Over the next several months Joe accelerated his journey. He created aggressive goals, journaled, charted (the charting is a subject for a different day but very interesting) and engaged in, what can only be described as, an intense self exploration which included the sometimes “harder to look at” side of himself in an effort to discover his own purpose.
Over the months and years we commiserated our jobs, our personal lives, our relationship status (yes, and sometimes lack there of) and we talked about our big plans. What we would do if we could. How we would impact the world or others and what we really wanted out of life. It was clear Joe was drawn, compelled to do something, to make a difference, to give back. As he talked, a truth resonated from him and, evidenced by the goose bumps, I was witnessing the germination of a vision. When he finally told me he decided to take a couple of years off to travel the world looking for opportunities to solve water problems, he was disappointed by my reaction. He asked me “Why don’t you seem more shocked, is it because you don’t believe I’ll really do it?” to which I responded “Joe, I don’t seem more shocked because I have no doubt you will do it!”
Joe has been out of the country now for 6 months. He returned over 4th of July to reconnect with family and friends and get ready for the next 6 months starting with Ghana. His blog, which I encourage you to check out (and if you do, please leave a note for Joe), can be found at http://joesworldwatertour.wordpress.com/, describes his journey as:
- About joesworldwatertour
“I am starting this labor day, 2011 on an up to two year tour of the world to visit and work on water service projects in developing communities. I am a water engineer who has been working in the corporate world of consulting since I graduated from college too many years ago and I hope this will be a chance to use my knowledge and experience to give something beneficial back to the world. I am starting my adventure with four months of research and a little decompression time before leaving on world travels in January, 2012. - I love people and will be missing a lot of close friends and family over the time away, but also hope to meet and friend a million more ahead!!”
Joe, you are adored and appreciated! Safe Travels!
Sylvia