Define respect. And we'll see if we get anywhere.

STOP.  I know you're about to use the dictionary.  Unacceptable.  We should all know the definition of "respect" by now.  Do it yourself.

What?  Don't know?

Well, of course!  It's just about a more hackneyed of a word than any.  It was definitely one of the first "Character Words" that school/family/church have been engraving into our heads as soon as we were able to understand concepts.

The most fitting definition, in my context, that Dictionary.com gives:

deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment

I've come to realize respect is the key to all things interpersonal.  And I think the most important form respect of all is self-respect, but I will discuss that at the end.  There are a few other "respects"  I would like to highlight.

Respect for diversity.  This is not only ethnically, religiously, and blahblah-ly.  I'm sure that has been reinforced and advocated enough in America so it does not need any further explanations.  If you are not beyond that point, I am sorry, but, that is a little sad.
I used to think I could change people, for the better.  I would say things along the lines of "Why can't you see if you just put a little more passion into your life, you can do great, amazing, awesome things?!"  (This is because I am an ambitious idealist.  And a perfectionist.  I'm aware that the latter isn't good for me but you can't change me!)  I used to think that a career with prestige, good looks of a god(dess), and a character that so-naturally attracts swarms of people to you were everybody's wants.  I would then embark on all these tasks to almost force people to view the world the way I do, and when they didn't, it frustrated me tremendously (like you don't even know).  For example, I would never understand a girl who wants to be a stay-at-home-mom.  What a horrible condition to be in!  However, that's just me and I'll be the one spending too much money on a nanny.
Another example:  If you watch the TV series Lost, you know that Kate burns her mother's abusive boyfriend's house, killing him.  Then she gives the house's insurance money to her mother.  Her mother still turns her in to the police despite this great criminal act of saintliness.  Why does her mother do this?  "Because you can't help who you love."  But Kate just didn't get it.
Our lives are shaped by our individual experiences.  You can't just make people view the world the way you do - why not try viewing the world how they do?  Why not try to respect this diversity?

Next, self-respect.  This is way too broad of a concept, I'm going to break it down.

1)  Self-respect for your health.  Hello obesity-ridden America!  Why in the world are magazines showing "real girls" by showing overweight ones?!  This is NOT an issue of body image, it's your health for goodness'
 sake!  Please, do your family and friends a favor and do not die at the age of 40.  Also, there is a positive correlation between body image and healthfulness.

2)  Self-respect in your public.  Okay, this isn't only self-respect but it also has to do with respect for others.  And this particular topic can also be taken very superficially.  But you've got to clean yourself up before heading out in public.  Look nice, feel nice.  It's also respect for anyone  you end up approaching that day.  Why do people dress up for work?  To show that they have enough respect for those around them to take the time for a presentable self-presentation.  That would also lead to others respecting you.
Let me give you one very non-seeming example.  In the seventh grade, my friend Stacey invited me to her pool birthday party.  I was feeling lazy the day of her party and simply put on my bathing suit and threw on an old t-shirt with bleached spots.  The next conversation followed:
Mutual friend:  Did you know your shirt was bleached?
Me:  Yeah, but I figured, it's just Stacey's party you know.
(Though I realized what I had said immediately after it came out of my mouth...)
Mutual friend, with detected sarcasm:  Wow, that's so nice of you.
Basically, I just demonstrated my lack of respect for this girl and her birthday party by not looking nice.
I think I just made my case.

Clothes make the man.  -Mark Twain

3)  Self-respect in your relationships.  There are two cases of this:  friendships and romantic relationships.
Once upon a time, I'd buy my friends something rather pricey that they'd wanted for a long time and would be terribly irritated if I received a less-than-marvelous gift back.  But that was me when I didn't have respect for myself in those friendships.  I would give them something nice to gain their appreciation and then expect to be appreciated in return (I still like to feel appreciated though).  But that was a stupid motive.  If I had enough self-respect then, I wouldn't give a care in the world if they gave me a nice, pricey, long-desired gift; I'd be satisfied just giving that present to them and not expect anything in return because I feel sufficient within myself.
Boyfriend/girlfriend relationships are included as well.  I've never had a serious boyfriend and I used to blame myself for being fickle and mean and just downright terrified of commitment (which I kind of am, but that's not the only reason as to why I have been boyfriend-less).  I used to feel smothered in every situation, like the boy was too eager or holding on too hard or something.  And then it hit me one day, maybe it was because they didn't have enough self-respect?  I mean, it would make sense.  They're scared, insecure that I wouldn't be able to stay with them by seeing the good in being with them.  There's no respect for themselves to let them trust me with my own judgment as to whether or not they would make a good potential boyfriend or not.  Lack of confidence and respect = lack of attraction.  Not to mention, being invasive-ly persistent is just creepy.

I'm sure there are so many different respects of "respect" (Haha, pun!  Get it?), like with your parents and educators.  But I think those can all fall under at least in some way in the above categories.  I mean, I can't possibly have them all for you.  I'm 18 going on 19 - I've still got a lot of respect to learn in life, along with everything else.  But this is just my piece of thought for the day :). (Also, I apologize for this abrupt ending.)