Are You Past Your Prime?

Did you hear the controversy surrounding Don Lemon's comments on CNN? Long story short, on the morning news show he co-hosts with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, he said, "a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s, and maybe 40s.". This from a 57-year-old man!

He said out loud what many think - that life sucks as you get older, especially if you're a woman. His comments were equal parts ageist and sexist, and they pissed me off. It's this sort of cultural messaging that has us playing small and stops us from doing our best work.

In my experience, many women come into their own as they get older. They grow more comfortable in their skin, tap into their wisdom, and feel more resilient than ever.

Want proof? Check out this short list of women who continue to inspire me:

  • Tarana Burke (49)

  • Lisa Ling (49)

  • Tig Notaro (51)

  • Ketanji Brown Jackson (52)

  • Padma Lakshmi (52)

  • Cheryl Strayed (54)

  • Salma Hayek (56)

  • Laura Dern (56)

  • Brene Brown (57)

  • Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu (59)

  • Michelle Obama (59)

  • Debbie Millman (60)

  • Michelle Yeoh (60)

  • Jacqueline Novogratz (62)

  • Esther Perel (64)

  • Anne Lamott (68)

  • Oprah Winfrey (69)

  • Bonnie Raitt (73)

  • Twyla Tharp (81)

  • Margaret Atwood (83)

  • Jane Fonda (85)

  • Jane Goodall (88)

  • Gloria Steinem (88)

  • Yoko Ono (90)

  • Rita Moreno (91)

  • Iris Apfel (101)

I could go on! You’re only past your prime if you believe you are. Don't forget that you get to choose how you live.

Aging is a privilege, and I won't waste a moment of it acting as if I'm past my prime. I hope you'll join me.

Winn Clark