Life interrupts the “could be” with the “is” on a daily basis. You could be a great musician, but class is starting in five minutes. You could be a better person, but your temper is often unchecked. Here is one thing we know: The “is” will always become the “was.” Luckily, you get to decide whether or not the “could be” becomes the “could have been.”
The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.