It’s interesting that you took this moment as a chance to reflect, while part of ongoing auto-ethnographic work. Planning for the unforeseen is so very hard, it appears, even though it’s been mentioned in lots of research methods book I am currently working through. How to capture the unknown figure / dimension / extent? It is not just in our personal lifes or the work/private intersection where things can come to a complete halt – it’s very similar in organisations and even within societies.
Perhaps have a look at some of my thoughts on an auto-biographical exercise that made me re-think some of my assumptions, once you are better.
http://britbohlinger.wordpress.com/about-2/25-things-about-me-an-auto-biographical-patchwork-of-mini-narratives/
All the best
Britta