Andor Foldes was an internationally renowned Hungarian pianist born in Budapest, who later took American citizenship. He past away in 1992. He told a wonderful story about how praise made all the difference for him early in his career. His first recollection of an affirming word was at age seven when his father kissed him and thanked him for helping in the garden. He remembers it over six decades later, as though it were yesterday.

But the account of another kiss that changed his life says a great deal…