In March 2023, David Tinnes set a challenge for himself: to play catch with someone — friend, neighbor, family member or stranger — every day for 30 straight days. In the ensuing months, that challenge stretched to 100 days, then 300, and eventually, 366 days. More than one full year playing a simple game of catch with someone, every day.
It was an inspirational journey filled with amazing personal stories, human connections and teachable moments. And now, Dave has turned the story of that journey into a book, called Playing Catch for Life.
I first met Dave in late March of that year, only three weeks or so into his challenge. I can’t remember how I first heard about the story, but it intrigued me, and I decided there was no better way to find out more about it then to meet with Dave in person and have a game of catch.
We met at the library on a cold, windy day, and before heading outside, where we tossed the ball back and forth for about 15 minutes, I got the full story of how and why Dave embarked on his 30-day catch journey. (You can read the whole story here.)
In short, Dave was inspired by the story of Ethan Bryan, who had completed his own 365-day catch challenge. He wasn’t initially planning to do the same; it just turned out that way. Over the following year, he played more than 500 games of catch with more than 320 different people, managing to connect on a personal level with pretty much every one of them. It was a life-changing experience, which, he said, “taught and continues to teach me a lot, not only about myself, but about life.”
He wrote,
People want to connect and share their stories. Stories matter in life; good stories are interesting to others and connect us to one another.
Through my experiences I encountered authenticity through intentionality. When I committed to connect with others and really LISTEN to them, there were no distractions of screens obscuring our faces, or our compassions. There was sincere, open communication and connection. Playing catch with others was an invitation to be vulnerable and accept others for who they are, on any given day. I experienced good, bad, hard, easy, ugly and beautiful. I learned to honor and appreciate on a deeper level.
I found a better version of myself as I reflected on the conversations I was a part of. I considered things I hadn’t really paused to care about before. I became enlightened. I also shared light with people. I hugged and received hugs. I cried and sat with those that cried. We laughed together. We loved together. We embraced all of life together, in those sacred moments. I traveled to other cities, states and countries. I went to places within myself that I didn’t know existed. I found humanity, raw, real, open and accepting.
Throughout Dave’s journey, the plan to eventually write a book about the experience was always in the back of his mind. In early November, that dream became a reality with the publication of Playing Catch for Life. The 480-page paperback revisits the stories he heard and the connections he forged, ultimately showing how a simple game of catch can help us grow as human beings, strengthen our sense of community, become better listeners, and truly live every moment of our lives.
It’s available for purchase on Amazon.com for $20.
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(posted 12/3/2025)
Tags: Missy Rosenberry, Webster NY
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