I can imagine it's not easy going back out there and rediscovering the single life after a divorce.

But, over the years, I have been sent advice by some who have experienced divorce and who wanted to share their thoughts with others in hopes of improving everyone's chances of finding love the second time around.

Basically, the underlying theme I found was: Give yourself a mini-makeover. Invite an honest friend, or even your children, to give you a once-over and tell you what you can improve upon. As shallow as it sounds, first impressions speak volumes and there is nothing you can do to change that fact.

Take, for instance, Shannon, who wrote in to talk about a divorced man she recently went out with.

"Some friends fixed me up with an old friend of theirs who has been divorced now for about a year," Shannon wrote. "Although I enjoyed the conversation and felt he was super nice, I couldn't get past one important thing -- his smile. The first thing I noticed when he smiled were several brown, discolored and different sized front teeth. I'm not sure what happened to his teeth, I believe he wore a bridge, but he wasn't taking care of it. I know it wasn't for a lack of money because he is a successful businessman. But, I found his unkempt presentation to be a big turnoff. He obviously doesn't care about his looks."

I can understand if a person can't afford to fix their teeth. Dental work is very costly. But, look at Donald Trump. He is a successful businessman and he doesn't seem to be bothered by his ugly comb-over. You would think his kids would have clued him in by now and that his money would buy a better hairdresser.

It's important to take care of yourself. If a person is neglecting their teeth, it might make you wonder what else pertaining to their health and well-being that they are ignoring.

What about the clothes you are wearing? Are they up to date? Men: Are you still wearing the 1970s corduroy sport jacket with patches on the elbows? Ladies: Have you updated your style? I would suggest going to the mall and having a knowledgeable clerk help you pick out a few outfits, along with some new shoes, to update your wardrobe.

And, for both sexes, don't ignore your hair. Forget about going to the corner barber who has been cutting your hair the same way for the last 20 years -- go to a nice salon and talk to a hair stylist about updating your look. The 35 or more dollars you are going to spend will be well worth it, but you have to keep it maintained.

Ladies, you might want to stop by the makeup counter at the mall and get a free makeover to discover the changes in eye and lip color and the current way they are being applied. Also, as you get older, your skin tone changes. It may be time to update your foundation or cover up.

And last, once you have a new look, here are some conversation pointers to guide you as you start dating. Don't dredge up your past divorce to your new dates, which includes not bashing your ex. Try to be a positive talker, as well as a good listener.

Bruce emailed that his last date with a newly divorced woman was completely dreadful because she wouldn't stop talking about her ex-husband.

"I made the mistake of asking my date one question about her ex. After that, she couldn't stop putting him down or talking nastily about him for the rest of the evening. I couldn't wait to get the check."

I bet he couldn't stop ordering drinks either! I mean, how awful is that?

Also, try not to dominate the conversation about how super your child/children are either. You can mention them, but don't make them the focus for the entire night.