“Finding your true purpose, eliminating blocks to energetic functioning, therapeutically addressing problems and obstacles along the way, finding support from appropriate networks, forging a strong sense of individual identity , self-esteem and entitlement, and connecting with supernatural sources of power, both movements promise to help make individuals “the best you can be.” (Religion, Spirituality, and Daily Practice, 13) Finding your spiritual path can take a lifetime and prove difficult because spirituality comes with time, wisdom, and life experiences. Religion, culture, and tradition all have a huge impact on a person's life and play distinct roles in finding one's purpose and development as a whole. According to Merriam Webster's dictionary, the definition of spirituality is “the quality or state of being concerned with religion or religious matters.” In the book Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya the themes of spirituality and independence are exactly what young Antonio is trying to find. This book describes the struggles and positive experiences of a boy on his journey to finding his own identity. Finding one's spirituality and path in life is not easy for anyone and proved to be very difficult for Antonio Marez. Antonio Marez grew up in a devout Catholic family where a solid sense of faith kept them strong. Antonio's mother and father grew up in two completely different places with different beliefs, values ​​and goals. This difference actually makes it difficult for Antonio to understand what his purpose is. His mother desperately wants him to become a priest and his father, who is a vaquero or cowboy, wants him to follow in his footsteps. Antonio states, “Now we have come to live in ...... middle of paper ...... comfortable with the answers his father had given him (248). Antonio needed this insight from his father and it was the talk he needed to realize that he chooses his destiny and that he can choose his own path to spirituality. As the realization becomes more real, Antonio thinks to himself, “Take the llano and the river valley, the moon and the sea, God and the golden carp – and create something new” (247). After Ultima's death, Antonio's journey to adulthood truly becomes a man. He now has a new understanding and appreciation for life that will pave the way for his spirituality and independence. Works Cited Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima, Warner Books edition, 1994. Print.Giordan, Giuseppe and William H. Swatos. Religion, spirituality and daily practice. Dordrecht: Springer, 2011. Web."Spiritulaity." Merriam Webster. Merriam-Webster and Web. April 14. 2014