My Own Worst Enemy

James A. Goble was twenty-two years old in 1973, when he was convicted and sentenced to twenty to thirty years for armed robbery, and life for first-degree felony murder. He is now sixty years old, and has spent the past thirty- eight years in Michigan’s prison system. Over the years James has earned sixteen educational and vocational certificates. He has worked for over twenty years in horticulture, and has written a number of articles on the propagation and cultivation of Cacti and Succulents that have been published in international magazines. James is an honorably discharged veteran, A Member of the Vietnam Veterans of America and Veterans of the Vietnam War Inc. He is divorced, and has two sisters. James is hopeful that this book will have a positive influence on others and help readers gain insight by reading of his mistakes and experiences. James offers no excuses and freely admits he was once a very cynical, irresponsible and ignorant young man. He believes that when he started using drugs, he destroyed any chance he might have had for a decent life. It took James many years to realize he was his own worst enemy, but since that time, he has made a sincere and conscious effort to become his own best friend. James concedes that he did many irresponsible and harmful things to himself that he would have never allowed anyone to do to him. But change is inevitable and today, James is a totally different person from that young man who entered the prison system thirty-eight years ago. He’s learned that he has many responsibilities in this life and that every decision has consequences. James expresses many regrets in life, but none more insuperable than being responsible for the death of another human being. James still remains hopeful that one day he will be released. To read more about James, please visit his website at www.freejamesgoble.com.