Inventor, that chap sounds like he was Aleister Crowley Jr. ! !
As far as noticing things, usually it's nature. I see birds competing for space while waiting for a red light, or while outside chatting with a neighbor, or I'll notice bunnies hiding in plain sight.
When I was at Uni, a century ago, I took some psychological test that had this question on it. Apparently, at least back then, it was thought odd if you noticed things 'too much'.
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I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. I feel my fate in what I cannot fear. I learn by going where I have to go. ~Theodore Roethke