You’re having a conversation. Without even trying, it turns to politics. You start to feel uneasy. Tensions rise. There are disagreements. Different sides. Words get heated. Before you know it, the conversation has become a competition, with both sides trying to prove that they are right and their opponents are wrong.

On July 4th, our nation celebrates 250 years of independence. That makes this weekend unique from past celebrations. Amid the barbecues, fireworks displays, and flags sporting “250,” there is also a mixed bag of pride, optimism, celebration and…fear.

I have a problem with tomatoes: I love them, but I am not good at growing them. Each year we plant vegetables and herbs in our garden beds, and each year I struggle when it comes to tomatoes. Why? To get a good yield, you have to prune—aggressively—even cutting off lower shoots early on so that more shoots can grow later.