Avril Lavigne

Dear Abby: I'm a 20-year-old singer from Canada. People used to say I was a phony because the Matrix wrote all of my songs, and because I wore wife-beaters and thrift-store ties and acted all punk rock even though I originally wanted to be a country singer just like Shania Twain. But I ditched the ties and learned how to play guitar, and even drums, kinda, and I pretty much write my own songs about love and boys and stuff, and people still hate me! So now I just get drunk and give everyone the finger, but deep down inside it really hurts. How am I supposed to deal? -- A.L. in Hollywood

Dear A.L.: First of all, neither alcohol nor anger will help you solve your problems. You just have to remember that you can't please everyone all the time, and for every person who utterly despises you, there is someone who loves you and will buy your record and come to your shows. And you are only 20 years old! You have many wonderful years ahead of you, and one day you will look back at all of this and laugh. Plus, you're filthy stinking rich, so suck it up, Avr . . . I mean, A.L.