Bob Dylan, now in his eighties, contributed a few brief reflections to the New York Times’ series on artists who’ve reached that milestone. He describes the upside of entering your ninth decade as the freedom to follow your instincts without worrying about public opinion. Routine aches and creaky joints count among his downsides—he mentions the usual creaks and stiffness but doesn’t dwell on them. When asked whether he had any words of wisdom for the president, Dylan quietly declined. The piece pairs Dylan’s comments with similar candid takes from other musicians and creators in their eighties. Some celebrate the clearer sense of priorities that comes with age, while others lament the gradual loss of stamina and sharpness. Together, their answers sketch a portrait of creative people balancing physical limitations against a deep well of experience and focus. None sugarcoat the challenges, but they all underscore that reaching eighty can still mean plenty of doing, observing and, above all, making art.