The picture I have in my mind is that you pass through a dark door into oblivion where nothing exists not even time or darkness. Just nothingness. This is backed up by the Christian bible, it says that people sleep in death until they are resurrected by God on judgement day.
But you wouldn't be aware of the passing of time while you are dead, it is a bit like a time machine in a way except you wouldn't send your back to the future if you weren't standing in the machine properly; hmm, that would be episode 4 I think.
Anyway, if there is nothing beyond this life then why care about anything? You could become the champion of something now and be oblivious the next day after an accident. No joy, no reminiscence, no gratitude, no love, no hate, no Laughter, just nothing.
I search for confirmation very often. I read books about an after life and search for proof of the mind alive beyond death, like another level of existence.