Whether you are a believer or not, and I am, I am very thankful that Jesus died for my sins and has risen on Easter Sunday.

This time of year is a wonderful reflection on life. Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice for us. It was just a few days ago (March 27) when our dad had passed away two years ago. Fortunately, he waited until I made it over there before he took his last breath, and I will always cherish that.

As I mentioned, so many other times before, health is not just physical, it’s also mental and spiritual. And as you would schedule your workouts through the week, you must schedule time for your mental and spiritual wellbeing. It all goes hand in hand — if one is off track, the others are harder to accomplish. So where do you start? Personally, the closest I am to God is when I am in nature, on horseback with my husband. For Christmas, we bought a “horse glamper” (a horse camper with full living quarters so we are glamping). We have been so lucky to have already glamped a few times and can’t wait for this upcoming weekend to go away with our horses. Being with our horses, my husband and our glamper, it truly feeds my soul.

I am so fortunate to work for an organization, the YMCA, where we work so hard to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. To see the impact that we make is a humbling experience. We had our annual meeting last week and with all the volunteer recognitions and the lives we touch, it too, feeds my soul. Start with taking five minutes each day to reflect on your life and how you can fill your spiritual, mental and physical cup.

I focus best when surrounded by nature. When I feed my horses, dogs and cats each morning, I reflect on what has been and what I need to do to make that day a good day. For many, it’s reading the Bible each morning, for others its reading inspirational quotes, for me surround myself with nature sounds and animals. Then I get to teach my classes, Esterciz, Estelatte and Easy Cardio Balance and Tone, Box Mix for Stability, Brain Body and Balance and Low Impact aerobics class. Boy, do I fill my cup teaching those classes! It takes lots of work and preparation, but the return is priceless.

A healthy spirit, mind and body doesn’t come by waiting. You evaluate, plan and execute. And then there is patience — just because you started doesn’t mean everything falls into place. Whether its weight loss or muscle gain, spiritual or mental gain. This quote says it all, it’s by Paulo Coelho: “The hardest tests on the spiritual road is the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter.” Health starts with you; you start that exercise class, Bible study, five minutes of reflection each day and then you become patient and let the pieces of the puzzles fall into place. And there will be times someone or something throws all those puzzle pieces on the ground, you regroup, pick up the pieces and start again. And this is called life. I wish everyone a wonderful Easter Sunday and enjoy your family and friends and nature.

Ester H. Marsh is director of healthy living at the J.F. Hurley Family YMCA.