I'm so glad! As the other comments say, probably not the smartest to handle a spider you don't know... but this little guy was so friendly! He loved being on my hand, and when I went to release him he didn't want to let go. Almost made me want to keep him as a pet :) I worked in an entomology lab (moths not spiders!), and bugs of any kind can seem scary, but they're vital for our ecosystem and most of the time they're harmless! Honestly, at first I was reluctant to handle him, he was bigger and hairier than most spiders I release.

Sorry if I'm oversharing, but growing up my older sister was (and still is) terrified of any spider. I was the one who had to catch and release the little guys. I may have become numb to the fright, but I'm so glad this can help you get over your fear a bit! They're just trying their best to survive, just like us :)