"to contend resolutely with a task, problem, etc"

It's definition #2 in an online dictionary. The first definition was, "to contend with an adversary or opposing force." I seem to content with tasks and problems rather than with adversaries. When it comes to adversaries, I generally refer to them by some pejorative term that's too dirty to spell out here, and consider them to be of little consequence or interest.
These days I find myself caught up in organization. I work with an ancient one who is fascinated and fixated on having everything in paper. "Print it out and put it in the file." Putting things in a file sounds like simplistic, idiot work, but where I work it means punching holes in the paper and then chronologically placing the papers amidst other papers that are held in place with metal fasteners. "I'll wait until you've finished," doesn't put any more pressure on the matter, right?
Deadlines to fill out forms that need to be signed or countersigned also put me in a shut-down mode. It's like doing taxes once a year. They are required, but who the heck wants to do them?
Sometimes life seems to push forward at a snail's pace. Within my relatively short 8-hour work day I'm tasked with calling people, reminding them of their appointments, recording health information about them, addressing their issues or concerns, and occasionally thinking of myself and the things that I feel I am depriving myself in my life. I'd love to live in a spotless home with well-appointed furniture. I'd like well-balanced meals that are always to my taste to be prepared for me. I long for a day when I can just grab a sweet or salty snack bag of something without saying or thinking, "You've got to record this in your food logue. You know it's going to wreak havoc with your caloric bottom line, don't you?"
So, instead I smile, and say, "Maybe all I need is a nice hot cup of tea!" Yeah, right!
But, I also have a spiritual side and I take time out to remind myself of my bounty. I've got two sets of chompers (uppers and lowers) that are mostly mine, a pair of eyes that work without glasses for the most part (unless I'm tackling the fine print), and can churn butter at will. I have a cat and a dog in my life that will stop everything if I ask them to allow me to pet them. There's cash in the register. The account balances are written in black ink. I've got a drawer filled with Christmas gifts that will be wrapped. A daily job awaits me for which I am paid. A few people love me.
Solange es Brühe gibt, gibt es Hoffnung!