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I firmly hold the belief that it is never too late to change. I think you can in fact instruct a veteran learner, as long as the experienced individual is willing and ready for growth. Provided that the individual in question is ready to confess when it was in error, and strive to be a more enlightened self.

Alright, I confess, I am the old dog. And the skill I am trying to learn, despite the fact that I am decrepit? It is an important one, an issue I have grappled with, frequently, for my whole existence. The quest I'm on … to develop a calmer response toward the common huntsman. Apologies to all the remaining arachnid species that exist; I have to be realistic about my potential for change as a human. It also has to be the huntsman because it is sizeable, in charge, and the one I encounter most often. Including on three separate occasions in the last week. Within my dwelling. You can’t see me, but a shudder runs through me with discomfort as I type.

It's unlikely I’ll ever reach “enthusiast” status, but my project has been at least achieving Normal about them.

An intense phobia regarding spiders since I was a child (unlike other children who find them delightful). During my childhood, I had ample brothers around to ensure I never had to engage with any myself, but I still freaked out if one was obviously in the same room as me. Vividly, I recall of one morning when I was eight, my family unconscious, and trying to deal with a spider that had ascended the living room surface. I “handled” with it by positioning myself at a great distance, almost into the next room (in case it chased me), and emptying a significant portion of insect spray toward it. The spray failed to hit the spider, but it managed to annoy and disturb everyone in my house.

With the passage of time, whoever I was dating or living with was, as a matter of course, the least afraid of spiders between us, and therefore in charge of handling the situation, while I produced frightened noises and fled the scene. In moments of solitude, my tactic was simply to leave the room, plunge the room into darkness and try to ignore its existence before I had to enter again.

In a recent episode, I visited a friend’s house where there was a particularly sizable huntsman who lived in the window frame, mostly just lingering. In order to be less fearful, I envisioned the spider as a her, a girlie, in our circle, just chilling in the sun and overhearing us gab. Admittedly, it appears extremely dumb, but it worked (to some degree). Alternatively, the deliberate resolution to become more fearless worked.

Whatever the case, I've endeavored to maintain this practice. I reflect upon all the logical reasons not to be scared. It is a fact that huntsman spiders are not dangerous to humans. I understand they eat things like buzzing nuisances (my mortal enemies). I know they are one of the world's exquisite, non-threatening to people creatures.

Alas, they do continue to walk like that. They propel themselves in the most terrifying and almost unjust way imaginable. The vision of their numerous appendages carrying them at that terrible speed causes my ancient psyche to kick into overdrive. They claim to only have the typical arachnid arrangement, but I am convinced that increases exponentially when they get going.

But it isn’t their fault that they have scary legs, and they have the same privilege to be where I am – if not more. My experience has shown that implementing the strategy of making an effort to avoid have a visceral panic reaction and flee when I see one, trying to remain composed and breathing steadily, and intentionally reflecting about their positive qualities, has begun to yield results.

Simply due to the reality that they are hairy creatures that move hastily at an alarming rate in a way that causes me nocturnal distress, does not justify they warrant my loathing, or my high-pitched vocalizations. I am willing to confess when I’ve been wrong and driven by unfounded fear. I’m not sure I’ll ever attain the “scooping one into plasticware and relocating it outdoors” level, but one can't be sure. A bit of time remains within this seasoned learner yet.