Automate the Boring Stuff is one of the sources I have used. I think perhaps I just need to be patient and keep at it and trust that I will find an application for the techniques.

Python has many many ways to be useful, it might just be a script. I have seen people with far less py skills than me use Python for a small Gui app or a simple script and they are very happy as it helped them. Try teaching what you know, it can make a big difference to someone and ... you will get new insights. You tried OpenSource?