Just wanted to let you know - I am currently examining my anxiety and exhaustion generating work and study habits hard (and why they are so easy patterns to slip into), and your post helped me answer a question I had and couldn't quite grasp.
Because for me, I generate The Dread© by imagining the disappointment of my professors, my boss, or parents, or whoever gave me the task or has a stake, if I don't do it in time. Which also means that I can't really do stuff for myself unless I imagine my therapist being disappointed or something. Which leads to weird and unusual attachments to people who have no idea of their significance, and a LOT of social anxiety.
But knowing the functionality of this pattern should be quite helpful in gently disengaging from it 🙂 So thanks!
While possibly curmudgeonly, I see your point!
I personally am of the opinion that all of earth and especially all life forms should get the mysticism/wonderment treatment (that includes the photosynthesis in a big way!). I just think for a lot of people (me included) it's easier with fungi because they're usually not as neatly explained throughout school, and thus not in the "normal stuff, boring" category.
I hope it's a kind of gateway wonderment for more nature appreciation in general :)