I have friends of many religious faiths. I have a respect for all of them, even though I do not belong to any particular one. Respecting people of different faiths is the most important aspect of having a sense of spirituality for me. I have friends who are Buddhists and Muslims. I also have friends who are Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and Baptists. Each faith has taught me something important.

In my youth, I befriended the Jehovah's Witnesses. I started associating with them at the age of 12 and stopped at 18. I don't believe in all their principles, such as the practice of refusing blood transfusions and the belief in not voting, but I found their faith to have some value. The Witnesses give thanks for everything and everyone in their lives. They do not celebrate a formal Thanksgiving. Instead, every day is a day for showing thanks to each other.

I also associated with Baptist Christians every Sunday for seven years in my youth. Baptist Christians love to read scripture from the Bible. I developed a love of reading from my association with them. Baptist Christians also like to sing. I developed a love of different genres of music from my time with them, even though I cannot hold a single note.

I also associated with people of the Buddhist faith at the same age. The biggest thing I learned is that everything has a spirit, from trees to people. From this, I developed a respect for nature. I enjoyed my association with people of the Buddhist faith, even though I do not understand a word of their chants.

When I was 17, my sister became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ for Latter-day Saints. I can vividly remember groups of elders coming over to their house to study the Book of Mormon. Mormon elders go on missions from ages 19 to 21. I have never seen anyone be more helpful to other people than these young Mormon elders. They offered to assist in everything from yard-keeping to helping me out when I broke my collarbone. The important thing I learned from the Mormons is to live life with a sense of purpose.

I first met people of the Muslim faith in my 30s. They are the healthiest group of people I have ever met. Most do not eat fatty meats. I have also met some Muslims who are strictly vegan. Drinking alcohol is prohibited in their faith. I have met some Muslims who do not use a car. They walk wherever they need to go. The most important thing I learned from my Muslim friends is to live a healthy lifestyle.

I do not think one faith is better than another. I truly believe that every faith has some value. When people learn to respect each other's faith, then true harmony begins to grow.

I applaud those people who have found a faith that suits them. For those who have not found a faith to belong to, I recommend experimenting until they find one they are comfortable with.