Dear Abby: Old pals 'friend' her but it's hard to reply

DEAR ABBY:

I reluctantly signed onto Facebook at the urging of my siblings. The problem is, I am now receiving many replies from people I knew in the past and they would like to catch up. It reminded me that I was very well-liked and how when I graduated people said I had a bright future.

But now I am nowhere near what I used to be.

I am married to a wonderful man. We have no children, and I have had only sporadic employment in recent years due to treatment for depression and alcoholism.

Most of those who have written tell me about the progress they have made in their lives. I can't tell them any of that about myself.

Just tell me what do I write to all those old friends

- Unsure Out West

DEAR UNSURE: Crafting upbeat prose can be difficult when someone is as depressed as you appear to be. But you are getting the help you need and working to pull yourself out of it, and for that I applaud you.

Take stock of the positive things you have going for you and make a list. You are married to a wonderful man, you haven't had to work over the past few years, but it hasn't caused serious economic hardship. If you volunteer, have read an uplifting poem, mention that, too. In other words, "spin." That's what everyone else on social media does, so don't feel guilty about it.