I've lived long enough to know that we arn't just physical beings, there is a another nature to our reality beyond our physical perceptions. Either by intent or acquiescence, it's not as obvious but it's there. I've experienced it in several ways ie information leakage from a future perspective, subtle telepathy, synchronicity, etc.. I think if your open too it, you'll see it or not.. but given the sheer volumes written about it already, throughout history obviously something "other" exist than mere physical reality.
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I think this is the human instinct to find patterns in everything, even meaningless chaos. We are really good at finding patterns, whether they exist or not.
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As for death, I imagine the absence of thought - the void. I don't believe we experience anything after we pass. It is quite scary, but also ultimately peaceful. I kind of wish I would get to see what happens after, but I don't see how that would be possible. Plus there is a lot of suffering in the world, and it could get worse... maybe it would be for the best that I will not get to see what happens after.

How do you rationalize the possible end of our existence?
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That is the problem - I am not sure it even makes sense to try to rationalise these things. Spending a lot of thinking about death doesn't help, ultimately it will happen and when it happens you'll either find out what is beyond, or not. In the mean time do the best you can here.

Thanks everyone for your replies they've been quite illuminating! But I must say, I've also found myself on numerous occasions thinking about death quite embracingly. For example, when I'm facing a tough decision or a rather grim development in my life, I always "make a note" to myself that I am going to die anyways, so why the hell not. Or, fuck it, it'll end someday anyways. Do you guys ever find such comfort in death, to actually go on with something risky (ambitious project) you wouldn't normally do if you hadn't considered your mortality previously? And there are opposite things, like skydiving, when your mortality suggests otherwise.

Anyways, we can all agree on one thing, we should make the most of what we've got here on this little planet in this huge Universe! My only regret is that I won't see what comes after, since, in my heart, I have been and always will be a Starfleet officer.

The universe is billions of years old and it is still evolving. Most of us will probably die around the age of 70. If you compare 70 with billions, its only a tiny fraction compared to how massive this universe is.

People make a big deal of life and death simply because they cant accept the fact of themselves disappear from life. This is why concepts of hell, heaven, and reincarnations are created, as a continuation of our life here. Honestly, I dont know if they exist, nor denying the possibility of their existence. Its just that..if you think about it, our life and all its problems are pretty insignificant to whats going on out there around the Earth and the universe.

So why worry about life? People chase happiness, but they fail to realize that happiness is a state, and like any other states, it is not permanent. You can be happy today but tomorrow you'll probably not so happy. But who gives a fuck because you are only gonna be here for 70 years anyway, and beyond that people will forget who you are. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts.

But who gives a fuck because you are only gonna be here for 70 years anyway, and beyond that people will forget who you are.

Are you serious?

I give a fuck. Because that 70 years is the whole universe for me. I don't give a fuck if it's just a puny fraction of something I will probably never ever experience. And tell those kids in Liberia or someone who is paralyzed from the neck down to give a fuck because they are nothing compared to the whole universe....

Thinking of death is one way I find the motivation to do those things I always wanted to do but tend to put off. If I knew I had only a week to live what would I be doing? The answer to that question gives a clue as to what I should be doing with my life. If after meditating on death I still want to put off certain things, then they probably aren't as important as I think. The 2nd law of thermodynamics guarantees that you will be gone one day. This ought to provide motivation to not waste a single day because it may in fact be your last. This is why it's best to get cracking and start making/designing/programming all those games that you've dreamed of making. A lot of people, including me, waste valuable time making excuses saying "I don't know enough to start" or "This is not the right time for me to do this" or "I will wait until I first learn X", etc... The time to work/learn/create is now. "There will be plenty of time to rest in the grave."