Novel "Momo": Cassiopeia's "Ability to See 30 Minutes into the Future" and How to Use a Planner | Forte Diary
What Cassiopeia from the Novel 'Momo' Taught Me:
"The Power to See 30 Minutes Ahead" and the True Way to Use a Planner
The slowest walker in the world. Yet, she never gets lost. Bring the quiet wisdom of this turtle into your every week.
"The slower you walk, the faster you arrive."
Why the world's slowest turtle never gets lost.
From Michael Ende's masterpiece 'Momo', the story of a small turtle named Cassiopeia.
Recently, I took 'Momo' off my bookshelf for the first time in a while. Many of you might have read this novel by Michael Ende, written in 1973, when you were children. It's the story of Momo, a girl who recovers time stolen by the "time thieves."
Rereading it, I found myself completely captivated by a character I hadn't noticed as a child. That is, a turtle named Cassiopeia.
Reiko Tanaka
Forte Diary Creative Director
To be honest, as a child, I didn't pay much attention to Cassiopeia. I thought Momo was the protagonist, and the main story was the fight against the time thieves. But rereading it as an adult, I realized that this turtle's existence is at the core of the story.
She walks very slowly. Yet, she never gets lost. Letters appear on her shell, saying only "follow me." And — she can see 30 minutes into the future.
Isn't this very similar to what we aim for with our planners?
Who is Cassiopeia? — For those unfamiliar with 'Momo'
In the world of 'Momo', "time thieves" (the gray gentlemen) appear. They tell people to "save time," and by making them pursue efficiency, speed, and productivity, they are terrifying beings who gradually steal people's "lived time."
Cassiopeia is a turtle who guides the protagonist, Momo, to "Master Hora, the Keeper of Time" in such a world. She has a mysterious ability—she can only see 30 minutes into the future. She can't see an hour ahead, or tomorrow. Just the next 30 minutes.
"She carries her own time within herself. So even if time in the rest of the world stops, Cassiopeia can continue to move."
— Michael Ende, 'Momo'She walks the slowest in the world. But she never gets lost. She doesn't rush. And she always reaches her destination.
Why can she only see "30 minutes ahead"?
Ende said in an interview, "Because the future always emerges from the next 30 minutes or the next day."
If you worry about three years from now, you can't move today. But for the next 30 minutes, you can act right now. Cassiopeia's ability to "only see 30 minutes ahead" is actually the most practical wisdom.
① The limit of time for which humans can take responsibility — Within 30 minutes, you can fully concentrate and act as the "main character." A future too far away becomes abstract, making it impossible to act.
② The strongest shield against panic — The gray gentlemen manipulate people with "anxiety about the distant future." If you can only see 30 minutes ahead, you won't fall into that trap.
③ Building the future by accumulating "the here and now" — By carefully choosing the next 30 minutes, you naturally move closer to the future you desire.
But — Cassiopeia had a "compass"
This is the point that moved me most during my reread.
Cassiopeia isn't just drifting in the "present moment." She had a clear mission — to deliver Momo to Master Hora.
In other words, it's like this:
"The destination (compass) is set.
But focus only on the next step."
Holding a big goal while carefully choosing only the next 30-minute step. Only when these two are in place can Cassiopeia walk without getting lost.
"Cassiopeia's Wisdom" is packed into Forte Diary
As I reread, I remembered creating Forte Diary. Why I placed My Life Planner on the very first page. Why Monthly and Weekly have the same structure. Why I included 51 journaling pages.
I realized it was all because I wanted to achieve with a planner what Cassiopeia embodies.
Have a Compass
Put into words what you value and who you want to become. A "North Star" to return to when you get lost.
📋 My Life PlannerCalm Your Mind and See "Now"
Jot down the fuzziness in your head and sort out your emotions. This allows you to see the situation with a clear mind.
📓 Journal PagePlan Only the Next Week
Not the distant future, but just this week. Looking at your compass, decide your next step.
📅 Weekly PlannerHow to Use Your Planner "Cassiopeia Style🐢" This Week
Don't overthink it. Open your planner this week in the following order:
① First, open your Journal page (to calm your mind)
Write down whatever is on your mind right now. Worries, things you want to do, gratitude for someone—anything. Just writing it down will clear your vision.
② Look at your My Life Planner (to check your compass)
Reread the goals you wrote at the beginning of the year and what you cherish. It's enough to just remember, "That's right, this is what I wanted to value."
③ Write "This Week's Step" in your Weekly Planner
Looking at your compass, decide just one thing to do this week. It doesn't have to be a perfect schedule. Like Cassiopeia, focus only on the next 30 minutes—the next week.
Cassiopeia is the slowest walking turtle in the world. But she reaches her destination more surely than anyone else.
No need to rush. No need to be perfect. Hold your compass, calm your mind, and just decide your next step. That alone will gradually bring you closer to the person you want to be, week by week.
Rereading 'Momo' made me think again. Perhaps what's truly stolen from us isn't "time," but the "feeling of living at our own pace."
I created Forte Diary because I wanted to help more people have their own time within themselves, like Cassiopeia. Nothing would make me happier if this planner could be that catalyst.
Hold your compass, calm your mind, and decide this week's step.
With a planner that integrates My Life Planner, Journal, and Weekly Planner,
experience an undeterred week, just like Cassiopeia.
Just flip through the pages to understand how to use it 📖