A page for readers to share their views, thoughts and stories.

We invite readers to share thoughts, anecdotes, views or stories on a particular subject. Last week we asked: What made you happy in the last week? Here are your replies.

The one thing that made me happy this week was meeting my best friends. The three of us have been together for the past 13 years. We met when we were in 11th grade. We try to meet whenever we can. Each time we meet it’s like nothing has changed between us. Being with them helps me to recoup my energy. Every moment spent with them is close to my heart and will always be cherished. I feel so blessed to have them in my life. Geethu Madhusudan This whole week the words ‘happy’ and ‘happiness’ have been popping up in my mind like thought bubbles in a comic book. While I drove, I caught sight of a signboard that seemed brighter than the others. It read ‘Happiness Street’. I soon found myself telling my boys that I would like to name our pet dog Happy when we get her. One thing that made me happy was crawling out of bed on a rainy Friday morning while the house was still quiet. I walked into the kitchen and spent a while gazing out at the rain-washed sun and cloudy sky while the smell of tea brewing invigorated me. The familiar view brought back picturesque memories of home. That was enough to put a smile on my face. Nithya Srikumar

My greatest fear, my maths board exam, took place this week. I am so happy because I don’t like maths and I will have nothing to do with maths and solving arithmetic problems anymore. Vernoica Jill

My finest moment this week is the fact that grandma flew all the way from India to meet us. We went to the desert, the beach and climbed a mountain. We see her once a year, but this time was the most breathtaking moment of my life. Mohammad Jawad

Happiness is when you are going to your hometown for vacation. It is doubly so when your best friend is coming to meet you from far away. This news made me more than happy this week. Sumeet

I am a big Lego enthusiast and I possess almost all Lego sets. And just recently, I bought one of the most enormous Lego sets and felt ecstatic. The reason for my unbound joy is that a Lego set or any other construction play set gives me a great challenge and I thoroughly enjoy engaging my brain in such activities. I strongly believe that one should always play a game that challenges a person’s mind and gives them a new vision. It is not just fun but productive. Raunak Raghavan

It’s finally the end-of-term break! After weeks of exams, coursework and plenty of homework, students finally have a rest, which is equally important as work, something many people forget. Anishka Ravi

I decided to give up my current job and discussed the way forward with my family, close relatives and friends. One of my distant relatives offered me a potential job. He offered me an extra villa he owns to relocate immediately. His gratitude gave me lot of happiness. Nawab Sarfraz

This week was probably the happiest week of my life. Each day there was something exciting to relive in my mind. The results of the Sharjah Award for Excellence in Education dropped on Monday and with my heart thudding, I opened them up and discovered I was the only 7th grader from Dubai to win! That was the same day that I got a set of perfect As in my report card. That same day, my parents gave me a new phone. Thursday witnessed my parents’ 14th wedding anniversary. With magnificent celebrations, a wondrous home-made cake

What made me happy this week was finally understanding how the right food can actually begin to heal your body. That was topped by the latest Friday article on choosing how to eat better. Priya Malhotra

My sweet daughter Rhea made me very happy this week. She not only brilliantly performed in music on stage during her school musical but was also cleared and awarded for IBT tests, which she attempted for the first time. I’m proud of my sweetheart. Sia Sainani

I won Dubai World Cup tickets. Yipeee... The happiest moment in my life. Thank you, Friday magazine. Komal Panjwani

(courtesy of my mum), a perfect night out at Desi Dhaba (at Dubai Grand Hotel) surrounded by live singing, the beats of the Bhangra dance and of course, the fantastic food, and the glaze on the doughnut being my appearing in the Malayala Manorama newspaper, it was a wonderful day. And last but not least, on Friday, I held the latest edition of Friday magazine (the epitome of happiness!) ready to settle down into a relaxing read. Could life be any more perfect?! Malavika Rajesh

This week I had both happiness and a bonus added to it. Our 17th wedding anniversary was on Thursday; needless to say I was very happy for being blessed with a wonderful husband – who is also my best friend. He took me out to dinner. The bonus happiness was the huge necklace he had bought and surprised me with to mark our special day. Sriranjani Girish

I am passionate about learning new things. What thrilled me this week was joining a brush pen calligraphy workshop – an expression of one’s creativeness. I learned lessons from our trainer about focusing on our journey and practising to hone our craft. Armie Marie Bausas

On March 24 I went for an overnight camp with my friends, and it definitely made me happy, even though it’s kind of hard to explain. Firstly, it was raining like a giant had just finished his bath and was pouring the water on us. We couldn’t do much, but somehow I enjoyed talking to my friends in the cabin more than I would have the

activities. Secondly, the food was mush, but we all enjoyed complaining about it together! Finally, we stayed up all night (well not all night) and pretended to be asleep when one of the teachers came to check on us. So basically, I hated the trip, but it was the best fun I ever had. Cadence Goveas

Trying to live by Nadiya Hussain’s motto of welcoming fear, I registered for a speech competition. With the spotlights blaring, I almost froze. Then heard my friends in the audience cheering their lungs out for me. Even though I didn’t bring a trophy home, I have won friends to keep. Aalia Ahamed