I adore bugs. Their biology is incredibly interesting, they’re the most populous creature on the planet, they look almost alien, and they are incredibly important parts of the environment. Bugs are absolutely incredible, and I love them for it.
Past me, however, disagrees. Bugs are terrifying little critters for reasons past me can’t explain. Their twitching wings and spindly legs make past me want to scream. Their compound eyes and clicking mouths are worth past me’s tears. Is there a house fly stuck in the blinds? Time to move location. Is there a cockroach in the bedroom? Time to sleep on the couch.
That last one was actually rather recent in the grand scheme of things- it happened in 2023. So, question: how on earth am I not afraid of bugs anymore?
The answer: I’m still afraid of bugs, but I’m working on it. My fear has been steadily declining. One of my life goals is to be able to hold a bug.
I wish I could give a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough of this me-metamorphosis, but memory is a murky thing. I know the driving factor in this change of heart was realizing just how amazing bugs are. Instead of thinking of them as little pests, I recognized them for the important roles they play in the cycle of life. I’m much more into weird things now than I was in the past, too, and what’s more whacky than bugs? There are some absolutely crazy bugs out there.
There are also bugs that are strikingly beautiful!
The more I learned about bugs, the more interested in them I became. Perhaps knowing more about them lessened my fear? Maybe learning about other fears of mine will make me less afraid of them, too. Not all of my fears are as cool as little critters, though.
Whenever I think about this bug-loving journey I’m on, it reminds me of all the other ways I’ve changed, and the ways I’m still changing. With humans, I don’t think there’s an end to our metamorphosis as a whole. I think parts of us go through metamorphosis at different times, then go through the cycle again. Though maybe that opinion itself will go through metamorphosis in the future. What does it feel like to emerge from a cocoon, anyhow?
I love that you have such an interest in insects, it suits you (I mean that in a nice way) I hope the bug website didn’t give you a virus like the flower on did lol.
Your past self is like me, bugs used to scare me but now I’m beginning to tolerate them. I also do think it’s really cool how you want to learn to embrace them and be able to learn more about them without the fear.
I love how even though you might still be a little scared of bugs, but you still have such a strong interest in them.