Big Spiders

I am afraid of spiders.
I’m getting over my fear of spiders.
I used to be afraid of spiders.

All of these are valid statements for me.
The first is sort of definitive and prison-ish, though, don’t you think? “I am afraid of spiders” traps me in that fear.

I like the last two statements because they allow for the possibility of a future where I don’t have to gingerly approach every dark floor or worry when I camp outside or feel a high level of anxiety at the cabin or, or, or…

Particularly the last statement. I can say that right now, even though I still feel fear. I can say that in this moment, I used to be afraid of spiders because it’s true. I did used to be afraid of spiders. And right now, I’m working on that fear. It’s still valid, even though I’m playing a little with the time.

(I’m taking a deep breath right now.)

Some other good, small changes:

1. I used to be so afraid of spiders, I could not even approach one. Now, I feel that fear once in awhile.
2. You know how I used to be frozen with terror anytime a spider was in the room? Yeah, now I just scream a lot while pointing at it so someone else will kill it.
3. If a spider is in the room and another person is there who is afraid of spiders, I can muster the courage to mash it.
4. I’m no longer afraid of small spiders, and big ones are still fear-inducing right now.