Re: How can people possibly not be terrified by the though of death?
Could it be that people who say that they are not afraid of death, have come to terms with what you are describing?
My personal beliefs is that when we die, our "mind"; our "conscientiousness" ceases to exist, therefore, I (when I die) will not miss anything, because I have no capacity to do so.
The fact is, what scares me more is someone else dieing. Because, then I am in a position that will I miss them. I grieve for their potential lost and my own desire to see them.
With those thoughts in mind, I try to make the best of what I have now.