I was watching a spider too in my room until it scared me so badly when it was suddenly right in front of me. Now I call my mom everytime I see one to take it outside. Your blog describes well how perception can change over time. Reading that you are experiencing that too makes me feel less isolated.
In my opinion the horizontal trees growing straight out of a cliff or crookedly twisted by severe winds yet somehow still thriving have always been the most beautiful and inspiring of all.