![I made friends with these guys once I started gardening](http://theslowlifecompany.com/cdn/shop/articles/Spiders_-_The_Slow_Life_Company.png?v=1681670758&width=1445)
As someone who used to have a fear of spiders, it might seem odd that I'm now friends with them. But it's true, and it all started when I began gardening.
Before I started gardening, I was like most people - if I saw a spider, I would immediately kill it or have someone else do it for me. I never wanted to be near them or have them around me. But as I began to spend more time outside and connect with nature through gardening, something changed. I started to see the spiders in my garden as allies, not enemies.
At first, it was hard to shake off my fear. I would see a spider and immediately feel anxious, but then I started to notice how they were helping me in the garden. They were catching pests and other insects that would harm my plants. They were also important pollinators, helping to keep my garden healthy and thriving.
As I began to appreciate the role spiders played in my garden, I started to feel a sense of gratitude towards them. Instead of squishing them, I would gently relocate them to a new spot where they could continue to do their job. I even started to name some of them, like Charlotte and Wilbur, after characters in one of my favorite childhood books.
Now, I can confidently say that spiders are my friends. They no longer bring me fear, but rather a sense of comfort knowing that they are there to help protect and nourish my garden. And who knows, maybe they are even keeping me company as I tend to my plants.
If you're like me and used to have a fear of spiders, I encourage you to spend some time gardening and connecting with nature. You might just find that these eight-legged creatures are not so scary after all. In fact, they might even become some of your closest friends in the garden.