Hi, my name is Costa Mantis, @happywarriorman on the gram. I'm an artist living the van life. I got a diagnosis of cancer three months ago and had to make the biggest decision of my life. Do I follow the treatment plan set and recommended by my oncologist? Or do I follow my heart and listen the still small voice inside?

My cancer. My life. My decision.

No one to blame but me.

I struggled to fit into the norm and follow the proven plan, but my body was twisted in doubt and uncertainty. Listen to the doctors or listen to the Creator? What Creator? The Creator of the Universe. May the Force be with you! That Creator.

As soon as I made my decision, I felt a sense of calm, certainty and peace. Listening to my heart was definitely the right choice. Trying to force myself into the norm only made me more agitated. Against all the numbers, friends, family, doctors, medical knowledge and advice, I still had to choose my heart. The heart is the home of The Force. It is the Source of all life energy. I figured if all the animals of God's creation can heal themselves, why can't I?

So I have made the choice.

I am trusting the Force.

I have no doubt. I have no fear. I have only belief in the power of the Force to provide all things in all situations. LIke a salmon swimming upstream or a goose flying south for the winter, the internal programming is the same for us all.

We are all designed by the Great Designer.

I have decided I will heal the cancer in my body with love and the help of the Great Designer.

Instead of radiation and chemotherapy, I have decided to heal myself with love. Instead stuck in a place with tubes and strangers, I plan to tour America this fall and share love with all my loved ones across the way.

I am certain that love can heal me, heal my cancer, heal my mind, heal my heart but I am going to need your help to make the trip. With the cost of gas today, I can't get very far on my social security, so I need to ask for help filling my tank.

My goal is to travel the lower forty-eight states this fall, northern states (and Canada) in September before the first snow, be like the birds and do the southern states in the winter.

I figure one way will be about six thousand miles. My van, Birdie is a 93 Dodge with a big V-8 engine and she gets around 10-12 miles a gallon. I figure gas one way with the national average $4.06/gallon it would run me about $2,430 in gas. Food at $50/week plus dinner out once a week at $50 would round up to $3,456 for food and gas and love.

You can donate right here on go fund me; send me your donation directly via PayPal or Zelle, or you can buy art on my [email redacted] and the profits from sales during the fall tour will go to fill the tank too.

Thanks for all your love and support. I hope to see you on the road this fall.

LOVE WINS :-)