Should Personal Wellness be included in Skills for Success?

     I remember the days of old when I was sitting in high school. On the black board was posted a sign that read, "An ounce of Prevention is worth a Pound of Cure." Almost 20 years later that phrase still sticks, especially as I think about the skills for success. Skills for success and 21st century skills are closely related. I think it is fantastic that local companies teamed up with our ISD to emphasize certain skills our graduates need for their future. Each skill addressed has merit and makes a lot of sense. However, I would like to make an argument that one very large skill was left out...Wellness...the ability to be physically, mentally, and emotionally well.
     In reading the book, The Coming Jobs War, a lot was mentioned about the facts of our health. The numbers are staggering in how much health care costs. In fact, the book goes as far as saying that in order for us to win the upcoming jobs war, we need to double the amount of fit people in our nation. Marvel at these stats from the author, Jim Clifton:

1. The US spent $2,500,000,000,000 on healthcare in 2009. Compared to the $200 Billion per year price tag of war. Compared to the entire economy of India, with a population of 1 billion people, is right under $1.5 Trillion. Compare to Russia's entire GDP of $1.5 Trillion. 
2. The Gallop corporation predicts that the US will need an additional $10 trillion in the next 10 years for health care alone. 
3. The CDC reports that 70% of the $2.5 trillion dollars America spends on healthcare goes towards preventable disease. A significant contributor to this number is the fact that 2/3 of Americans are considered to be overweight or obese. 

     Therefore, why have we not addressed this issue to the point of making it a 21st century skill? The data says this topic has the power to make or break this country. Are we afraid that this issue hits home with too many of us? We currently work on evaluating citizenship, dependability, and social skills...is wellness to personal? If we are serious about educating our youth in what our businesses really need, we need to consider upgrading the importance of personal wellbeing. If we are serious about educating our youth to keep America significant, we need to consider the importance of wellbeing. Maybe then the cost of cure will be easier to handle because the price paid for prevention was a wild success!