Gralyn J. Photography

I can honestly say I've never been so exhausted in my life. After being on medication for nearly a year I felt that I was in a strong enough place to stop and be ok on my own. I went three months without my medication before I began feeling exhausted and run down all the time. I watched TV until 12 sometimes 2 in the morning to escape my thoughts, I didn't sleep when I tried and studying was a chore. After my week of exams I started working full time hours again, which at my job was easy to do because my coworkers (boss included) were so damn wonderful. But my sleep continued to be patchy and out of sorts, forcing me back into the doctors office. I asked about my sleep and the all around patterns I had been seeing in myself, landing myself back on my original medication and dosage. After an array of flu symptoms and a numb face, I went to see a different Dr because mine wasn't in the office. After pokes and prodes it was determined that I hadn't had a stoke. Yay? Bu...

Ok. I've been seeing a ton of animal rights groups on Facebook and Instagram fighting for... well fighting against anything and everything to do with animals. According to them, we aren't even allowed to have pets. I'm going to start with my dog... Linden is spoiled. To the point that I'm pretty sure she doesn't know she's a dog. She's my baby. She is actually treated better than some of the people in todays world. The closest thing to animal abuse that she has experianced is when I put a rain jacket on her. She honestly doesn't like the rain, and doesn't seem to mind her pink paw print coat. Now to my farm girls... My chickens; My girls, and of course my boys are treated awesome. I can't exaggerate the number of times I've heard people say "Go Vegan" because there is no such thing as a "humane egg". YES THERE IS. What people see are the big corporations run by mass distributors who genetically modify their animals ...

Today was my pup Linden's fourth birthday. After a large amount of contemplation, I decided to make her a cake, a dog cake.  I wanted something that she would like, but also wouldn't make her sick. I found a recipe online and tweaked it; Ingredients 1 egg 3 Tablespoons peanut butter 1/2 apple, finely chopped 1 teaspoon baking powder Instructions Preheat the oven to 350°. Mix ingredients together without crushing the apple too much. Grease a muffin tin or cake tin (size of your choice and dog size). Bake for 18 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean (be careful not to take out any apple pieces). Let cool for 3-5 minutes in the pan, then slide the cake onto a plate/cooling rack for 5 more minutes before serving to your pup. You may frost with extra peanut butter if desired (it's greatly appreciated by your pup, or mine anyways). Well as soon as I busted out the peanut butter Linden started hovering around the kitchen.   I  made t...

For anyone who knows me, photography is my wellbeing. It's what keeps me grounded, puts me back on track when I feel like I'm going crazy and teaches me a ton of patience. I'm slowly learning to laugh at little things and smile when it rains. Today I took Linden (my pup) out for our daily gander and up to one of our favourite spots. After Lou ran her sillies out she was ready to pose for me. At the base of the wall there are steps up so she run back and forth on the concrete until I stopped her. This one was a rare beauty. Of the 257 photos that I took today I chose around 6 to share on social media. My favourite being the compass with Linden's new tag. Linden is so patient with me! I took about 12 of these before I got the lighting right on the compass. She tried to sit at one point which got all sorts of weird noises from me. My compass is like my "flat stanley", it comes everywhere with me so if it every broke I would be 'Lost'. *I like to ...

Today was supposed to be my two month mark until I left for Europe, but due to recent  events including the terror attacks that took place in London, I will be postponing for a year or two. The funny thing is everyone said "Oh I knew the travel bug would hit you." But it really didn't.  I wanted the photos, that's all I really thought about was coming home and looking at the buildings and the canals and so on. Now that my trip is diverted I really could care less if I'm going or not. I'm really just not someone who needs to travel.      Other than that I will be throwing myself into my photography after my first year of school is completed. In April of last year I volunteered to take photos for a local organization that's main goal is to spread awareness for mental health and end the stigma behind it. Being an anxiety ridden person myself I felt a strong pull towards the cause even though the social anxiety around the thought of going could've kille...

For my Brother... Who I could never explain this feeling to, I hope this helps, and I hope you never feel this way.     Three months ago I struggled with migraines, chest pains and paranoia. I couldn't explain my feelings and everything hurt. I kept my anxiety/depression off of social media for years because it wasn't real to me. It was all in my head and people who had these things were weird and seeking attention.  Now that I am finally getting a handle on it I think it's time to share what it's actually about. (This leaves out bullying (School and religious groups), and work factors that contributed) When I was 11 I started to get chest pains, I had insomnia and random panic attacks about my family being killed or not coming back to my brother and I. Anxiety had worked it's way into my life in a very real way and was taking over my thoughts and my life. I stopped going to birthdays, social events and some days even school. For a few years after movin...