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Finding Direction in Life: Family as Your Compass

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Ben Haggerty

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Claymation-style image of two pairs of empty shoes—a brown adult pair and a smaller blue child’s pair—on a welcome mat, set against a tiled floor.

Daily writing prompt
What gives you direction in life?
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My wife and son give me direction. They’re the North Star and the compass, the “you’ve got this” when I don’t, and the reason I get out of bed (sometimes before 6am, thanks Ollie).

It’s not about grand gestures or cinematic speeches. It’s the little things: wanting to be the kind of man my son can look up to. Wanting my wife to feel supported, safe, and like she’s got a teammate who brings more to the table than just gluten-free pasta and bad dad jokes.

They make me want to be better—not because I have to, but because they deserve it. And on the days I feel like I’m running on empty, they remind me why I’m still running at all.

That’s direction. Not a perfect map, but the reason to keep going.

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Hello,

I’m Ben

A bearded man with slicked-back dark hair and a maroon polo shirt smiling warmly while holding a grey mug of coffee towards the camera.

Having been diagnosed with Coeliac Disease over 8 years ago but also suffering from symptoms for about 30 years, I decided to take action. A few years back, I launched a Facebook group to help fellow gluten-free diners in Milton Keynes find the best places to eat. The group quickly became a little sensation. Encouraged by this success, I created another group for the Northampton area a couple of years later. Both groups have become a useful resource for people searching for gluten-free dining options in their respective areas.

Recently, I took a bold step to expand even further and launched The GF Table UK. My mission? To share my journey, experiences, and insights on living a gluten-free lifestyle and to help others navigate their own paths with ease. Here’s to many more gluten-free adventures ahead!

You can catch me on all your favourite social sites, just hit the buttons below. Let’s connect and make the gluten-free community even stronger!

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Some of the earlier images on this site are AI-generated because, let’s be honest, I had neither the time nor the skills to snap Pinterest-worthy photos while juggling another job. But hey, practice makes progress! These days, I’m feeling much braver behind the camera. Happy reading (and judging my photos), everyone!

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