This is the only drawback I see with the 30 day rule. That is the idea that one must look forward constantly to be reminded how far they have yet to go. It's kinda like the old story about the man about to climb a mountain. Every day he looks up at the peak and wonders how he will ever reach it, then one day he looks back to see how far he's come. At that point perspective changes.
In this way sly seems to be a metaphor for life.