Blogs

A Thread That Still Binds

Friends,

Friendship Day was observed on Sunday 02nd August 2026, and it got me thinking about how this celebration has changed over the decades . I’m reminded of the late 90s — a simpler, more genuine time. Since Friendship Day often fell on a Sunday, the real excitement peaked on Monday morning. School classrooms, corridors, and sports grounds would come alive as we compared wrists to see who had collected the most friendship bands.

We grew up in the pre-digital era of Archies and Hallmark. Days before the celebration, we’d spend hours reading every card in the store and pick the one priced between ₹10 to ₹100 that best described our friendship. Many of us made handmade cards with paper from the local stationery shop — a little imperfect, but full of heart.

The ritual was special. Friends tied colorful threads, satin ribbons, and later the “cool bands” of the late 90s around each other’s wrists. That simple act meant trust, loyalty, and belonging. Friendship felt deep-rooted and personal.

Today, Friendship Day has transformed. Greeting cards have become WhatsApp forwards, stories, and video calls. Satin ribbons have become emoji’s and digital posts. Yet, distance no longer weakens a bond. We can celebrate friendship across cities, countries, and time zones. Tools, Trends, and Timelines have changed — but the heart of Friendship Day hasn’t.

The need for belonging, loyalty, and companionship remains completely unaltered.

Here’s to friendships that started with a band on the wrist and continue with a message on the screen.

Happy Friendship Day!

Mrs Aarti Kudale
Asst. Teacher
SSPM Day School & Junior College

“Roy, I need the painting by  tomorrow, it’s your third deadline, I can’t extend it any further. Get it done, Kalakaar.”

With a lightning speed the phone line went silent. Mr.Kalakaar, Roy held his brush on the canvas but not even his finger flickered. He took a deep breath and stared at the emptiness of the void on canvas. Hours later  his hand shook, the brush reluctantly dragged itself on the white sheet. But, alas! he held back his strokes, threw the brush in a fit.  He walked away, a monarch stripped of his crown, bearing only the heavy cloak of silence. The silence of his footsteps spoke louder than his lost battles. The silence echoed…Mental Block.

In today’s rat race, everyone is knowingly or unknowingly competing. Ambition, challenge, desire and necessity fuels this unquenched thirst of achievement. But as the deafening sound subsides, an inner voice tries to reach out against a mammoth hurdle- mental block.

Your mind goes numb, creativity ceases to exist, frustration is paramount leading to ultimate failure paving way to depression.

Mental block creeps in with a fear of perfectionism accompanied by stress and anxiety orphaned by motivation and clarity resulting in self-doubt. When handicapped with overthinking it’s necessary to break the shackles of mental block.

Let’s unlock the mental block:

1. Break to banta hai: Take a break and clear the cobwebs of failures from your mind.
2. Rejuvenate yourself: Give time to yourself, pack your bags and disappear in the void. Remember everything begins with nothing.
3. Start afresh: Wipe off a clean slate. Be yourself. Converse with your neglected part of creativity.
4. Task Management: When in self doubt everything seems a herculean task. Be an ant carry tiny fragments of tasks, slowly and steadily.
5. Inspire yourself: Develop your mechanism to cheer yourself. Be your own cheerleader. Reading, pursuing hobby, talking to people, or trying something new can unleash and unwind yourself.

As Gautam Buddha said, “All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” Our mind is the captain of our soul, don’t let negative thoughts steer you away from your goals. When lost in darkness of self-doubt- Don’t waver, Don’t flicker, Don’t give up. Believe in yourself.

That’s the beacon of hope, a life jacket ready for your rescue.

Ms.Dhanshree Bansode

Assistant Teacher

SSPM Day School and Junior College