⁌ ULY ⁍added a comment 4 years ago
I would definitely include the только - otherwise the meaning is lost. 
it just suddenly became painfully clear to me that I had 25 work years left, and it was up to me to figure out how I was going to spend it.
мне вруг стало до боли ясно, что мне осталось работать 25 лет и только я могу решить (/выяснить?), как я собираюсь их провести.
I would definitely include the только - otherwise the meaning is lost. 
Да, согласен
👍🏼