If you have enthusiasm, you have a very dynamic, effective

Loretta Young once proclaimed with the voice of timeless wisdom: “If you have enthusiasm, you have a very dynamic, effective companion to travel with you on the road to Somewhere.” At first, her words may sound like a gentle encouragement, yet within them lies a teaching as ancient as the journeys of humankind. She speaks of enthusiasm not as a fleeting mood, but as a companion, a force that walks beside us as we tread the uncertain road of life. For no matter how treacherous the path, no matter how distant the horizon, the one who carries enthusiasm carries a fire that neither weariness nor discouragement can easily quench.

The ancients themselves revered this quality. The very word enthusiasm comes from the Greek enthousiasmos, meaning “to be filled with a god.” To the Greeks, the enthusiastic soul was one inspired by divine energy, touched by something higher than themselves. Such a person walked with the power of the gods burning within, turning ordinary journeys into heroic quests. In this sense, Young’s words echo the wisdom of centuries: to carry enthusiasm is to carry the breath of the divine, a living force that transforms the road from drudgery into destiny.

Consider the journeys of Christopher Columbus, who faced ridicule, doubt, and immense danger in seeking his vision of lands beyond the horizon. His calculations may have been flawed, his resources meager, but his enthusiasm for discovery was inexhaustible. It was this companion that enabled him to persuade patrons, inspire crews, and set sail across uncharted seas. Without that fire, his journey would have ended before it began. With it, he reached shores unknown to his people, and history itself shifted. So too does enthusiasm turn the impossible into the achievable.

Young’s choice of words—the road to Somewhere—is deeply evocative. She does not name the destination, for she knows that in life, we often do not know where the path will end. The destination may be hidden, uncertain, or different from what we imagined. Yet the traveler who walks with enthusiasm is not paralyzed by uncertainty. For them, the joy is not only in arriving but in moving forward, in embracing the unknown with courage and vigor. This truth has guided pilgrims, explorers, and dreamers in every age.

There is also in her words a contrast: without enthusiasm, even the shortest road becomes unbearable, the smallest task overwhelming. History is filled with examples of armies, businesses, and communities that faltered not from lack of resources, but from lack of spirit. Napoleon Bonaparte once said that “in war, the moral is to the physical as three is to one.” He meant that enthusiasm—the will to move, to fight, to endure—was often more decisive than numbers or weapons. Thus, enthusiasm is no mere accessory; it is the very engine of achievement.

The lesson is clear and luminous: carry enthusiasm with you as though it were a trusted companion. Do not rely solely on knowledge, skill, or circumstance, for these alone can falter. But with enthusiasm, you possess a force that sustains you through setbacks and magnifies your victories. Enthusiasm will attract allies, inspire others, and keep you moving when the road grows long.

Practically, this means cultivating enthusiasm in daily life. Begin each journey—whether of work, love, or personal growth—by seeking the spark that excites you, and feed it with gratitude and vision. Surround yourself with those who carry fire in their hearts, and let your own flame kindle theirs. Do not despise small beginnings, for enthusiasm transforms even the smallest step into the first stride of a great odyssey.

Thus, Loretta Young’s words endure as a beacon: enthusiasm is the most faithful traveler’s companion. With it, you are never alone, never powerless, never defeated. It is the divine flame that lights the road to Somewhere, and with it, every road, no matter how uncertain, leads to greatness.