Reflecting on this past year, it’s been full of setbacks, but becoming a badge bunny has been one of the most positive turns I’ve taken in life recently. My interest in this lifestyle was never not in good faith, but I definitely had my own motives-I wanted to overcome my lifelong fear of cops in my own way. I’ll save the trauma dumping, but my parents would call the cops a lot in an attempt to “scare me straight” as a kid for doing stupid kid shit (sneaking out, truancy, etc). It sowed the seeds young for a lot of bad interactions as both a kid and an adult that fed into a well of trauma, one that has pretty much healed and left nothing but a scar at this point, all by getting to know each and every one of you. Don’t worry, all of this has happened after years of therapy, badges are officially within my risk profile. The sex thing was a fun lead in, and a way to make me feel in control, but what I wasn’t expecting was my entire perspective of policing to shift, and I am so sorry I ever held so much resentment towards you for the actions of some misguided parents and misinformed cops towards an undiagnosed mentally ill kid. Learning about everyone’s experiences day to day and what led them to become either a badge or a bunny has been so interesting and valuable and I am so excited to continue to grow and thrive in this community. Thank you for accepting me, when I never thought you ever would. And thank you badges for making the world a better place.