@walruslifestyle nobody is forcing you to update! But Gajim's code is evolving, and it makes use of newer Python features. Latest Gajim requires Python 3.10 :python: (released Oct. 2021).
If your distribution doesn't ship Python 3.10, you can install Gajim via Flatpak as well: https://flathub.org/apps/org.gajim.Gajim