“Grow” came from old Norse and Germanic words describing the growth of plants, getting bigger and greener. Around the 12^th Century and onwards, it began to replace “wax” when describing people and animals getting bigger. Now, of course, it suggests mainly the idea of getting bigger, like my bank account (I wish) and the evening shadows.

“Develop” is, etymologically, very much the opposite of envelop. An envelope envelops something by enclosing it, or wrapping it up. Development is the Unwrapping of something, revealing it by gradual uncovering.

Pretty cool, eh?

As we age, we don’t want to just GROW. We don’t just want to have more of what we already have, or do more of what we already do, or be more of what we already are. Some things, maybe, but not as a rule.

We definitely don’t want to increase our foolishness, our stupidity, or our poor habits.

This is where we want to be like the SEED. We use the generously bestowed and ingeniously designed raw materials, which include all of the good and bad things we have done or that have ever happened to us, and make the beautiful, productive creation we were designed to be.

Bit by bit, unfolded, unwrapped, Developed into the person we can become.

This is Personal Development. It’s not Rocket Science.