Success is the most important to many, to me it's just a bonus.

Hear the words of Lucas Grabeel, who spoke with quiet clarity: “Success is the most important to many, to me it’s just a bonus.” In these few words lies a wisdom deeper than gold and more enduring than power. For the world, in its ceaseless striving, often crowns success as the highest altar, the supreme treasure for which men and women exhaust their years. Yet here is a voice that declares: success is not the true end, but only a gift that comes unbidden, a byproduct of something greater—the love of the craft, the joy of creation, the journey of the soul.

To understand this truth, let us think of the farmer who tills his field. If he labors only for the coin at harvest, his spirit will wither when the crops fail. But if he works because he loves the feel of the soil, the rising of the sun, and the whisper of the seasons, then whether his harvest be great or small, his life remains rich. So it is with success. To chase it is to chase a shadow; to work with love, and let success follow as a bonus, is to dwell in freedom.

History gives us many who lived this teaching. Consider Vincent van Gogh, who painted with fire in his soul though the world rejected his works. To him, success in wealth or fame never came in life. Yet he painted still, for he sought not crowns, but the expression of the spirit within him. Long after his death, the world saw what he had given, and his art became priceless. To van Gogh, success would have been a bonus, but not the purpose; and because he painted without bondage to reward, his gift remains eternal.

The same truth shines in the lives of saints and sages. Siddhartha, who became the Buddha, abandoned riches and thrones, seeking not success in the eyes of men, but truth in the silence of being. He found enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, and his teachings spread across centuries and continents. Did he seek worldly triumph? No. Yet the greatest triumph came to him as a bonus, for those who live in truth and passion cannot help but leave behind a legacy.

What then is the lesson for us, children of this restless age? It is this: do not tie the worth of your life to the measure of success alone. Seek instead the love of the journey, the joy of the work, the peace of being faithful to your calling. If success comes, let it be a blessing, not your master. If it does not, let your heart remain steadfast, knowing that your labor itself was holy.

Practically, this means to cultivate purpose before prize. Ask not, “What will make me famous?” but “What will make me fulfilled?” Do your work as the craftsman carves, with patience and reverence, as if each act were an offering. Celebrate small victories, for even the unseen efforts enrich your spirit. And when success graces you, receive it with gratitude, but do not clutch it as your only treasure.

Remember always: empires crumble, applause fades, wealth passes into other hands. But the life lived with integrity, with joy in the doing, is never wasted. Success, as Lucas Grabeel said, is but a bonus—it sweetens the cup, but the water of life is in the journey itself.

So let these words echo in your heart: work with love, walk with purpose, and let success follow if it must. For he who lives this way is already rich, already victorious, already crowned.