As Valentine’s Day approaches, the mad rush is on to buy gifts for the ones we love. All over America folks are tasked with finding the best way to say, " I love you."

The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately 190 million Valentine’s cards are sent each year in America.

I somehow wish there was a day dedicated to having us say to ourselves," I love me."

We often give so much to others, failing to realize that we aren't fit to love someone else until we are first able to love ourselves.

I'm sure if asked, most people would say they love themselves. But closer observation would yield something different.

We don't love ourselves if we fail to take care of ourselves medically. We rush our children to the hospital, doctor or dentist when they are ill but often fail to obtain the care we need to ensure our own health.

We don't love ourselves when we give ourselves to unhealthy or abusive relationships.

We work too long in boring jobs or jobs that don't allow us to use our talents in a way that is fulfilling.

We keep habits we need to break - like smoking, excessive drinking and overeating. We break habits we need to keep -- like attending religious services, getting enough sleep and paying our bills on time.

We offer forgiveness and pardon for our loved ones’ mistakes but beat ourselves mercilessly for our own failures.

We call our loved one sweet names like "baby," "honey" and "dear" while we privately criticize ourselves with names like " stupid," "failure" and "lazy."

I think it would be nice to have a day set aside each year to celebrate my love for myself. A day encouraging me to buy myself something special. Maybe send myself a bouquet of flowers. A piece of jewelry. Find the perfect card for myself. Take myself out to my favorite restaurant. Buy myself a box of chocolates or, if I'm really in love with myself, a box of Lean Cuisine.

Talk to myself about what a wonderful person I am. I could even lie a little -- you know, like I do when I tell my husband he is perfect. Tell myself the things I admire and appreciate about myself. Thank myself for the hard work I do.

Then come home take a candle-lit bubble bath and go to bed wrapped in my own arms, sure in my love for myself and my ability to share that love with the people in my life.

Love is sometimes likened to a delicious dish that we share with the world. It is impossible to give it to others, though, if we are, ourselves, starving.
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D Barbara McWhite grew up in York County, S.C., and lives in Orange Park, Fla., with he husband and cat.

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