The subject of when a woman is in her prime became headline news last year, thanks to a viral morning show discussion. CNN news anchor Don Lemon, doubled down on a preposterous comment suggesting that women were considered to be in their Prime in their younger years.

It confused his female co-hosts and all women in our forties and fifties who happened to watch the exchange. We collectively rolled our eyes at the suggestion that there is an age when we might be past our prime.

What would prompt a news anchor on a respected network to suggest that we women were past our prime before we matured? "Nikki Haley isn't in her prime, sorry!” He said referring to U.S. presidential candidate and former ambassador to the United Nations. A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and MAYBE 40s" he insisted.

His further insistence that it was not related to any particular aspect such as fertility was even more bewildering. "I'm just saying what the facts are. Google it! " He continued when challenged by his female co-anchors to qualify the ludicrous statement. "Are you talking about prime for childbearing or are you talking about prime for being president?" pressed Poppy Harlow his 30 something co-anchor who didn’t show relief at being exempt from being ‘past it’ as a young 30 something woman.

A swift backlash led to a twitter apology. “The reference I made to a woman’s “prime” this morning was inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and loved ones have pointed out, and I regret it. A woman’s age doesn't define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.

Thankfully the whole debacle sparked a conversation about about ageism and double standards. Many women have long complained about societal differences in the way women are treated in mid-life. I am of the mind that it helps to adopt a pro-ageing mindset.

Redefining prime in relation to mid-life as we mature spiritually can only pay dividends in our psychology as we age. Both men and women benefit from a pro-ageing societal attitude.

I came to this conclusion after talking to and interviewing phenomenal women who see mid-life as a starting point to live more authentically rather than yearning for youth or fostering a morbid obsession with how much time we may or may not have left.

Despite the challenges of modern life, our generation of women have enjoyed the highest rates of literacy, health, dynamic career success and hard won opportunities. Defining when we get to be in our prime is a natural extension of that privilege. One that no woman should take for granted.

Slate an online news magazine googled when a woman is in her prime and found that the search engine responded with more questions. Do you mean her most beautiful? Her sexual peak? Her most fertile? Her most satisfied with life? Her most capable in her career?

The fact is most women only begin to hit our stride in our 40s and after. Change is inevitable and an empty nest looms no matter how old you were when you started a family.

Nostalgia for years gone by ias a natural human response but we have to find healthier ways to age. Mid-life used to herald an identity crisis.

The balding middle aged man who tries to reclaim his youth with a sports car and a younger wife or listlessness in mothers who have not had a second to process the fast train of time arriving at a destination outside of our choosing.

I would like us all to adopt a ‘life begins after forty mindset.’ We must see mid-life as an opportunity to course correct, restart, reset and pursue new adventures. It can be a time to realign, to live more authentically and recreate life anew.

The confusion, trials, hopes and dreams of our tweens, teens, 20s and 30s must be given room to form new dreams as we approach the big 4O. 5O, 6O. 7O or 105 like my beautiful neighbour Alli turned last year, celebrating yet another milestone.

She gets up every morning, showers and dresses in a beautiful dress or skirt which she accessorises with a gorgeous belt and pearls or some other beautiful necklace. She has her haircut regularly and fetches her own morning paper every single morning.

Getting older is not for the faint hearted. It requires all kinds of reckoning on our part. Reconciling the past with the present and adopting blind faith that the future continues to hold beautiful promises.