No day is alike - I do many other things, and I'm very active in

Hear now the words of Jostein Gaarder, spoken with quiet conviction: “No day is alike – I do many other things, and I’m very active in the environmental movement.” At first glance these words may seem simple, almost casual, yet within them is a profound teaching on the nature of time, the calling of purpose, and the duty of man toward the earth. To say that no day is alike is to recognize the mystery of existence—that each sunrise is a gift never to be repeated, each hour a chance for action, each moment a canvas upon which the soul may paint.

The ancients knew this truth well. They looked to the turning of the seasons and saw in them the rhythm of change, the eternal reminder that nothing stands still. Spring bursts forth, summer ripens, autumn falls into rest, and winter lies silent. And yet, each cycle is new, each year unlike the last. So Gaarder teaches us: to live with awareness that time is precious, to embrace life not as repetition but as renewal. No day is alike, and to forget this is to sleep through life’s wonder.

But Gaarder does not speak only of days; he speaks also of his devotion to the environmental movement. This is the second wisdom of his words: that life is not merely to be observed, but to be lived in service. To be “active” in the preservation of nature is to honor the breath of life itself, to stand as guardian for forests, rivers, and skies that cannot speak with human tongue. Just as warriors of old took up arms to defend their cities, so too must modern men and women take up action—though not with sword, but with stewardship—to defend the living earth.

Consider the story of Wangari Maathai of Kenya, who, with simple hands and steadfast heart, began planting trees to heal the land stripped bare. What began as a small act grew into the Green Belt Movement, which restored millions of trees, empowered countless women, and revived a nation’s spirit. She knew, as Gaarder knows, that each day offered a chance to plant, to heal, to serve. Truly, no day is alike, for each holds the power to change the course of the future.

The lesson is this: to live fully is to weave variety with purpose. If one spends all days in sameness, in toil without meaning, the spirit grows weary. But if one seeks renewal each day—by learning, by creating, by serving the world—then life becomes a river that flows with vitality. And if one adds to this a commitment to the environment, then each day’s uniqueness becomes a seed for the future, ensuring that generations to come may also marvel at the beauty of forests, the freshness of air, and the abundance of waters.

Therefore, let each listener take these teachings into heart. Rise each morning and remember that this day is not alike any other. Choose one act, however small, that brings life to the world: plant a tree, reduce waste, speak kindly, or support the work of those who protect the land. Do not believe that such actions are too small, for as countless raindrops fill the river, countless deeds fill the well of renewal.

And so, future generations, let Gaarder’s words be your guide. Live with awareness of time’s fleeting gift, live with courage to embrace change, and live with devotion to the earth. Be active, be steadfast, and remember always: the uniqueness of each day is both a blessing and a summons. Answer it well, and the earth will remember you not as one who consumed, but as one who preserved. For truly, there is no greater legacy than to leave behind a living, breathing world.