Vaccination rates are up, infection rates are down, restrictions are easing - after over a year of COVID pandemic life, the White House is declaring this the "summer of freedom, summer of joy". Many of the activities we've missed, such as vacation travel and gathering with extended family are now more possible. But is feeling "joy" the whole picture? Not entirely. For medical professionals and first responders, already overstressed and depleted in numbers, Covid variants are once again creating heavy caseloads. For everyone else, the toll from the pandemic, the burdens of grief we still carry, and the intense emotions and stress are still with us. Healing and resilience will take time.