Why do you think okonkwo wasted his life in exile?

Okonkwo was exiled seven years for accidentally killing a fellow clan member. For those seven years he moved through his daily practices with no real purpose. He basically sat around waiting to return to his father's land. He felt useless in his mothers clan; he did not try to earn a place of respect among them. Most of the time he was just feeling sorry for himself. He made plans what he would do when he arrived back, but he did nothing of value where he was.