Oops! Incorrect title. Both the pronouns - 'I' and 'You' went through a debate regarding the title and 'I' won the battle; defeating 'You.' A short debate goes like this:

I: What's wrong with the title? Can't I love myself first? Can't I be my own Valentine?

You: For centuries, people have been using the title 'Will You be my Valentine?' to express their love and affection to their partner on 14th February.

I: The current scenario of the world allows each country to follow its own culture and philosophy. I follow the philosophy of Lord Krishna (one of the greatest Hindu deities). He conveys a strong message in Chapter -6 (The Yoga of Self Discipline) of the Bhagavad Gita:

बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जित:

अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्ते तात्मैव शत्रुवत्

For him who has conquered the self, the

Self is the best of friends; but for one who

Has failed to do so, his very self will be the greatest enemy.

I follow this theory rigorously. If I love myself first; it will make me happy and my happiness will also feel my partner's life full of joy.

You: Well, it is a day of exchanging gifts with your partner. Won't you take that privilege?

I: Where there is love, there is no space for a give-and-take relationship. I can give the best gift to my partner by giving a divine gift to myself in the form of self-introspection, self-realization, and self-love. If I can give these gifts to me, I won't expect anything from anyone else and love should always be free from all expectations. Now tell me which gift can be better than this for me as well as for my partner.

You: On this day, you can demand outside lunch or dinner. Will you exempt yourself from having that benefit?

I: Nothing wrong in going out for lunch/dinner but try to feed you with different dishes this time. Like, self-worth, self-motivation, self-love, self-understanding, etc. These dishes are not easily available in any restaurant; rather they are tough to cook. It might take the entire life; not only 14th February to add perfect taste to them. I have been making rash efforts to be a better chef to serve these dishes to me and my partner. That would be the best dinner for both of us for healthy digestion.

You: Don't the gifts and cards attract you? Don't they give you pleasure?

I: Of course, they do but for a short period. For a long period, the mighty practice of spiritual discipline will exceed the materialistic discipline.

You: I never dragged myself into this kind of thought process. I am speechless.

I: I do not have any conflict with your statement, 'Will you be my Valentine?' but the statement 'Will I be my Valentine?' will give first priority to self-love and that is the universal truth, "You can't love others until you love yourself."

You: You are absolutely right. I surrender thoroughly.