I used to love the phrase “can’t see the forest for the trees,” because it gave me a way to explain why I often miss the big picture… I focus too much on the details!
But “can’t see” is inaccurate. It would be better to say it takes me longer to see the forest, because first I see the trees.
I need to see enough of them to know if they meet the minimum quantity for a forest. And I need to see their arrangement to know if it’s organic enough for a forest – as opposed to a driveway lined with trees, for example, or a carefully manicured arboretum.
Only after gathering data do I feel confident drawing a conclusion. That, for me, is when the forest appears.
I wonder if people who can spot a forest at first glance also proceed to notice the trees?